Hensel's snake

Hensel's snake (Ditaxodon taeniatus) is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to southern Brazil, and it is monotypic in the genus Ditaxodon.

Geographic range
D. taeniatus is found in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, and São Paulo.

Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of D. taeniatus are forest and grassland, at altitudes of 800 –.

Description
The neotype of D. taeniatus has a total length of 54.3 cm, which includes a tail length of 12.2 cm. The maximum recorded total lengths are 86.4 cm for a female, and 70.7 cm for a male.

Diet
D. taeniatus preys upon lizards and birds.

Reproduction
D. taeniatus is oviparous. Clutch size is around ten eggs.