About Philodryas patagoniensis (Girard, 1858)
Philodryas patagoniensis (Girard, 1858) is a medium-sized, cylindrical, robust snake with a moderately long tail. It reaches a maximum total length, including the tail, of 150 cm (59 in). It has a rounded snout, medium-sized eyes with round pupils, and smooth dorsal scales that have unique apical scores. This snake is found across Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It lives in a variety of open habitats, including the Patagonian steppe, Cerrado, Chaco, and Caatinga, as well as in open areas of the Atlantic forest. Adult Philodryas patagoniensis exhibit sexual dimorphism: females have longer, more corpulent bodies, while males have longer tails. Female hatchlings already have a greater rostro-cloacal length than males, and females reach sexual maturity later than males, at around 2 years old, while males reach sexual maturity at 1 year old. Reproduction is seasonal, with the vitellogenic season taking place between July and October.
