Brazilian Green Racer

Philodryas aestiva inhabits a wide range of environments in southwestern Brazil, northern Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Uruguay. They prefer open forests and savannahs (such as the Cerrado biome in Brazil) but are sometimes found in semi-urban or rural areas.

Philodryas aestiva is a highly agile snake. Its slender body and large eyes contribute not only to its swift movement but also to its climbing ability. It is diurnal meaning it actively forages during the day. It is primarily terrestrial.

The genus Philodryas, Philo which is Greek means "loving" or "fond of" and dryas also Greek means "tree" or "oak," also used for "tree nymph" in mythology. Philodryas can be interpreted as "tree-loving" or "fond of trees." The species name aestiva comes from the Latin aestīvus and means "of the summer" or "summery" which could refer to its active season or its green coloration. If you put the name together, Philodryas aestiva roughly means "summer-loving tree snake" or "summery tree-dweller", hinting at its habitat and activity patterns.