Unlike Lystrophis pulcher, to which this snake bears a striking resemblance, this snake retains the tricolored pattern as an adult. When juveniles, Lystrophis matogrossensis are difficult to distinguish by purely visual inspection alone. For positive identification, without knowing the locality where the snake was captured, scale counts are the only sure method of confirming the species.

Holotype for Lystrophis matogrossensis Head color and scalation shown	Holotype for Lystrophis matogrossensis	Ventral surface of Lystrophis matogrossensis. Note predominantly white ventral surface and annuli posterior to the cloaca. Photo by Dennis Desmond	Anterior ventral surface of Lystrophis mattogrossensis. Photo by Dennis Desmond	Drawing from "Serpentes do Brasil" by Afranio do Amaral showing a snake from Matogrosso Brazil. Misidentified in the text as a Lystrophis semicinctus
Lystrophis matogrossensis Paraguay Photo by Dennis Desmond	Lystrophis matogrossensis Paraguay Photo by Dennis Desmond	Lystrophis matogrossensis Paraguay Photo by Dennis Desmond	Lystrophis matogrossensis Paraguay Dennis Desmond	Lystrophis matogrossensis Paraguay Note pattern Dennis Desmond
Lystrophis matogrossensis Wrongly sold as L semicinctus Tim Rainwater	Lystrophis matogrossensis Incorrectly sold as L semicinctus Tim Rainwater	Lystrophis matogrossensis Incorrectly sold as L semicinctus Tim Rainwater	Lystrophis matogrossensis Incorrectly sold as L semicinctus Tim Rainwater	Lystrophis matogrossensis B Ballantyne
Lystrophis matogrossensis with 13 annuli. Photo by Dennis Desmond	Lystrophis matogrossensis with 13 annuli. Photo by Dennis Desmond	Lystrophis matogrossensis lateral viewof head. Photo by Dennis Desmond	Lystrophis matogrossensis View of band with white ventral surface. Photo by Dennis Desmond	Lystrophis matogrossensis Dorsal view of head. Photo by Dennis Desmond
Adult Lystrophis matogrossensis feeding on mouse. Photo by Dennis Desmond	Adult Lystrophis matogrossensis feeding on mouse. Photo by Dennis Desmond	Adult Lystrophis matogrossensis feeding on mouse. Photo by Dennis Desmond	Adult Lystrophis matogrossensis - note aberrant pattern Photo by Dennis Desmond
Juvenile Lystrophis matogrossensis Note bright banding and double ring on snout Photo by Alexander Hue	Juvenile Lystrophis matogrossensis Note bright banding and double ring on snout Photo by Alexander Hue	Juvenile Lystrophis matogrossensis Interesting banding pattern on body. Photo by Alexander Hue	Juvenile Lystrophis matogrossensis Interesting banding pattern on body. Photo by B Ballantyne
Based on studies and reporting from Dr. G.J. Scrocchi and F. B. Cruz of the Instituto de Herpetolgia, Fundacion Miguel Lillo, Tucaman, Republica Argentina, it appears as though most of the tricolor hognose snakes sold as Lystrophis semicinctus, are, in actuality, either L. pulcher or L. mattogrossensis.
Many thanks go to Kelvin Yen and Alexander Hue for permission to reproduce their photos.