417:, as coloring differs slightly between all individuals. Hatchlings and juveniles are much darker in coloration and do not have the typical dark eyes of the adults. They more resemble a garter or water snake than their mature counterparts. In captivity, hypomelanstic animals have been produced. These animals vary in coloration, from some having only slightly lighter colored saddles, to those that are almost patternless. A melanistic population found in
72:
33:
387:
374:
snakes reach about 2 m (6 to 7 ft) in total length. It is of medium body, so is neither particularly heavy nor slender-bodied, weights can average around 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) and exceed 2 kg (4.4 lb) in mature adults, with some specimens weighing 4.56 kg (10.1 lb).
412:
are yellow or brown, spotted with dark flecks that make three dotted lines, which appear to merge towards the tail. Mehrtens, 1987, suggested females are brown ventrally, whilst males are yellow. Females are suggested to have lighter bands and markings on their bodies. This is not an effective way
538:
Manning et al. (1999) described a case in which an 18-year-old male pet-store employee was bitten on the wrist by a specimen that hung on for 1.5 minutes. Some mild swelling resulted, but after nine hours, the victim claimed to have experienced three bouts of muscle paralysis, during which he fell
501:
species. It is also a very active and inquisitive snake, which spends much of the day climbing, burrowing, and even swimming. Temperaments can vary considerably between specimens; some are very docile and reluctant to bite, whilst others are very defensive and even aggressive or intimidating.
534:
activity. Besides the ability of this large and powerful snake to inflict mechanical trauma, numerous cases of local envenomation and perhaps hypersensitivity have occurred, most of which have gone unreported. Prolonged, chewing bites may result in painful (sometimes extensive and persistent)
407:
The background colour of a mature specimen is an olive green or brown, with dark spots and bands covering much of its body. The background coloring and banding generally become darker towards the tail. This colouring gives the false water cobra effective camouflage in its natural rainforest
539:
and was unable to move or speak, but a medical examination did not produce any unusual results. The symptoms described possibly were the result of anxiety. The liquid venom yield ranges from 0 to 50 microliters and the solid venom yield is 1.3 mg.
379:, as a defensive reaction to make it look larger and more intimidating. Unlike the true cobra, though, the false water cobra stays in a horizontal position when it hoods, rather than rearing into a vertical position.
482:
that are common within its range. However, the false water cobra has also been observed in dryer areas, although this is not its preferred habitat. The preference of wetlands as a habitat for
1312:
1203:
514:
primarily feeds on fish and amphibians, but will take small mammals, rodents, birds, and even other reptiles. In captivity, they can be introduced to other types of food, as well.
816:
325:
is commonly referred to as the false water cobra, false cobra, South
American water cobra, and Brazilian smooth snake. In South America, it is sometimes referred to as
1120:
375:
Males are typically much smaller than females in this species. The common name false water cobra is an allusion to its ability to flatten its neck, similar to a
1159:
842:
Utilization of
Natural History Information in Evidence based Herpetoculture: A Proposed Protocol and Case Study with Hydrodynastes gigas (False Water Cobra)
1317:
1094:
404:). The false water cobra has large eyes with circular pupils, allowing good daytime vision. The tongue is black, and of the typical snake fashion.
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swelling, as well as bruising. Nevertheless, the species is regularly kept as a pet, becoming increasingly popular in recent years.
961:
Catalogue of the Snakes in the
British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ.
820:
903:
867:
716:"Análisis de los guaranismos registrados en el Diccionario del castellano paraguayo y en el Diccionario de la lengua española"
689:
1302:
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963:
London: Trustees of the
British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I-XX. (Genus
1138:
645:
1297:
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370:
is a large dipsadidae snake that may exceed 3 m (9 to 10 ft) in total length (including tail) when adult. Most
1287:
613:
Warrell DA (2004). "Snakebites in
Central and South America: Epidemiology, Clinical Features, and Clinical Management".
71:
1164:
1292:
1059:
905:"Venomous Bites from Non-Venomous Snakes: A Critical Analysis of Risk and Management of "Colubrid Snake Bites
956:
310:
species) does. Unlike a true cobra, though, it does not rear up, but remains in a horizontal position. No
1277:
1021:
884:
Carvalho, P., Zaher, H., da Silva, Jr., N., and
Santana, D (2020). A morphological and molecular study of
715:
502:
Captive-bred specimens can become quite tame and trusting, and many exhibit a high level of intelligence.
176:
784:
304:. The false water cobra is so named because when the snake is threatened it "hoods" as a true cobra (
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383:
can flatten not only its neck, but also lower down its body, which is not possible for a true cobra.
527:
479:
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41:
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987:
Erpétology générale ou histoire naturelle complète des reptiles. Tome septième. Première partie.
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A pair of specimens on display at the
Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington, DC
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627:. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. 870 pp., 1,500 plates.
460:
418:
83:
928:
Dowling HG, Gibson FW (1970). "The relationships of the
Neotropical snakes
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1177:
1234:
1038:
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This species was once considered to constitute a single monotypic genus,
456:
289:
123:
103:
1009:
902:
Weinstein, Scott A.; Warrell, David A.; Keyler, Daniel E. (2011-06-20).
755:
González-Lebrero, Rodolfo A.; Lebrero, Rodolfo
Eduardo González (2002).
1099:
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277:
113:
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888:(Serpentes, Diapsadidae), a widespread species from South America.
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but genetic evidence indicates that this population is composed of
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133:
56:
50:
758:
La pequeña aldea: sociedad y economĂa en Buenos Aires (1580-1640)
1086:
306:
1019:
714:
LingĂĽĂstica, DirecciĂłn
General de InvestigaciĂłn (2023-04-30).
421:, central Brazil, was originally describe as a new species of
398:
species superficially resemble those of true water cobras (
817:"FWC care sheet wanted please help - Reptile Forums UK"
486:
contributes to its common name of false "water" cobra.
803:, pp. 78-79, 99, 132-133 + photographs on pp. 5, 50).
690:"False Water Cobras (Cyclagras (Hydronastes) gigas)"
1224:
1028:
595:". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
394:Additionally, the pattern and coloration of this
296:. It is commonly and alternatively known as the
625:The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere
609:
607:
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351:Additional South American common names include
8:
780:
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1313:Taxa named by André Marie Constant Duméril
1016:
791:. Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications. 189 pp.
31:
20:
731:
474:generally lives in wet, humid areas, and
314:are currently recognized as being valid.
811:
809:
654:Integrated Taxonomic Information System
560:
7:
262:Franco, Fernandes & Bentim, 2007
14:
522:The posterior maxillary teeth of
761:(in Spanish). Editorial Biblos.
353:mboi-peba, surucucu-do-pantanal,
70:
857:. Herpetological Review, 42, 2.
530:produces a secretion with high
989:Paris: Roret. xvii + 780 pp. (
1:
1318:Taxa named by Auguste Duméril
1012:. Accessed 27 September 2007.
1010:Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
855:290 290 NATURAL HISTORY NOTES
1308:Taxa named by Gabriel Bibron
225:A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron &
1339:
1323:Reptiles described in 1854
853:Martinelli, I. M. (2011).
733:10.47133/NEMITYRA2023d10A5
258:Hydrodynastes melanogigas
217:
210:
182:
175:
67:Scientific classification
65:
48:
39:
30:
23:
844:. Animals, 10(11), 2021.
840:Loughman, Z. J. (2020).
930:Hydrodynastes bicinctus
789:Snakes of South America
478:, typically within the
526:are enlarged, and the
447:is found from eastern
413:of judging the sex of
391:
302:Brazilian smooth snake
1303:Fauna of the Pantanal
1283:Reptiles of Argentina
938:Herpetological Review
389:
1298:Reptiles of Paraguay
993:, pp. 761–763).
648:Hydrodynastes gigas
569:"Appendices | CITES"
480:tropical rainforests
359:('barking snake').
227:A.H.A. Duméril, 1854
1288:Reptiles of Bolivia
1060:Hydrodynastes gigas
1030:Hydrodynastes gigas
1005:Hydrodynastes gigas
886:Hydrodynastes gigas
868:"Untitled Document"
801:Hydrodynastes gigas
623:, Lamar WW (2004).
593:Hydrodynastes gigas
323:Hydrodynastes gigas
273:Hydrodynastes gigas
245:Hydrodynastes gigas
186:Hydrodynastes gigas
42:Conservation status
25:Hydrodynastes gigas
443:In South America,
392:
1265:
1264:
1186:Open Tree of Life
1022:Taxon identifiers
915:978-0-12-387755-0
768:978-950-786-319-6
408:environment. The
298:false water cobra
269:
268:
60:
1330:
1293:Snakes of Brazil
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870:. Archived from
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528:Duvernoy's gland
439:Geographic range
357:vĂbora ladradora
348:('alert head').
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75:
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16:Species of snake
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971:, p. 144).
969:Cyclagras gigas
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951:Further reading
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934:Cyclagras gigas
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497:is primarily a
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427:H. melanogigas,
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333:, it is called
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276:is a New World
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232:Cyclagras gigas
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998:External links
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874:on 2008-12-11.
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988:
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975:Duméril A-M-C
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823:on 2008-07-05
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797:0-87666-912-7
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726:(1): 84–107.
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696:on 2009-01-07
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221:Xenodon gigas
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177:Binomial name
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168:H. gigas
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155:Hydrodynastes
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990:
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967:and species
964:
960:
957:Boulenger GA
940:
937:
933:
929:
924:
908:. Elsevier.
904:
897:
889:
885:
880:
872:the original
862:
854:
849:
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836:
825:. Retrieved
821:the original
800:
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723:
719:
709:
698:. Retrieved
694:the original
657:. Retrieved
647:
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576:. Retrieved
572:
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548:
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523:
521:
511:
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451:to southern
444:
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399:
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318:Common names
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272:
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257:
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231:
220:
185:
183:
167:
166:
154:
24:
18:
1108:iNaturalist
1054:Wikispecies
943:(2): 37-38.
621:Campbell JA
532:proteolytic
363:Description
341:, from the
282:rear-fanged
53:Appendix II
1272:Categories
1241:Q109520305
827:2009-06-15
785:Freiberg M
700:2009-06-23
659:9 February
578:2022-01-14
555:References
476:marshlands
431:melanistic
312:subspecies
280:of large,
144:Colubridae
130:Suborder:
983:Duméril A
965:Cyclagras
892:8:e10073.
742:2707-1642
573:cites.org
549:Cyclagras
461:Argentina
455:, and in
434:H. gigas.
419:Tocantins
327:boipevaçu
162:Species:
134:Serpentes
90:Kingdom:
84:Eukaryota
1235:Wikidata
1152:15179152
1126:11344842
1039:Wikidata
985:(1854).
979:Bibron G
959:(1894).
787:(1982).
720:Ñemitỹrã
543:Taxonomy
524:H. gigas
512:H. gigas
495:H. gigas
490:Behavior
484:H. gigas
472:H. gigas
457:Paraguay
445:H. gigas
415:H. gigas
381:H. gigas
372:H. gigas
368:H. gigas
346:ñakanina
339:yacaniná
335:ñacaniná
300:and the
286:Dipsadin
212:Synonyms
140:Family:
124:Squamata
114:Reptilia
104:Chordata
100:Phylum:
94:Animalia
80:Domain:
1255:1083692
1191:1087428
1100:2454428
1087:1056273
1045:Q431664
1008:at the
506:Feeding
499:diurnal
467:Habitat
449:Bolivia
343:Guarani
331:Spanish
290:endemic
278:species
205:, 1854)
150:Genus:
120:Order:
110:Class:
55: (
1214:195076
1211:uBio:
1178:100047
1165:666086
1139:701117
912:
890:PeerJ.
795:
765:
740:
631:
453:Brazil
288:snake
253:, 1966
240:, 1885
198:Bibron
1204:gigas
1121:IRMNG
1113:29904
1074:3N6YD
518:Venom
377:cobra
329:. In
200:&
57:CITES
51:CITES
1250:ITIS
1160:NCBI
1147:IUCN
1134:ITIS
1095:GBIF
932:and
910:ISBN
793:ISBN
763:ISBN
738:ISSN
661:2007
629:ISBN
459:and
355:and
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