A snake of moderate average of 60 - 70 cm length. Females are more robust than males. The body is notably robust, with a large, broad head well differentiated from the neck, and a short tail.

This is a terrestrial snake that is active during day and night. It can usually be found hidden under fallen leaves on the ground, between large tree roots, in caves or lairs of other animals, and near ravines and lakes in primary and secondary forests.

It can be found from the Atlantic coast in Mexico to the central region of Panama. In our country, it can be found in tropical and subtropical rainforests in the Cordillera de Guanacaste, Cordillera de Tilaran, Cordillera Central and the Cordillera de Talamanca mountain ranges, from 50 to 1600 m of altitude.