Mousehole Snake

The jarillera is a long snake with an elongated head and pale lips. Young animals show three dark longitudinal stripes, but these can become indistinct as they mature. Adults may look much more mottled, so the name “three-lined” should not be treated as an invariable field mark.

It is associated with dry Monte habitats and reaches coastal Patagonia. Birds, rodents and lizards form part of its prey, and it can move through vegetation as well as across the ground. The regional book documents the species, but its presence does not make it a predictable sight on a walk.

In our region. A regional snake with unpredictable encounters. Surface activity depends on suitable conditions; observe without handling or disturbing shelters.