[5] In Central America L. ahaetulla is found in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, southern Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.

In South America it is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

The head shields and the dorsal scales may be edged with black.

On each side of the head is a black streak which passes through the eye.

The species was thought to be non-venomous,[3] but it is mildly venomous with localized pain, swelling and a feeling of "pins and needles" being the symptoms of envenomation.