False Water Cobra Hydrodynastes gigas

The False Water Cobra looks like the Asian cobra snakes and, like them, rears up with a hooded head when threatened, but is not closely related to true cobras, is not as venomous and is native to the northern half of South America.

It lives in wetlands and seasonally-flooded areas that later dry up. Unlike true cobras, it can flatten part of its body as well as its head and will usually lie low rather than rear up when threatened. It typically reaches some 2 metres in length but can exceed 3 metres.