Eastern Hognose Snake
Heterodon platirhinos • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Dipsadinae, Genus: Heterodon, Species: platirhinos
Widespread across North America, ranging from southern Ontario, Canada, through the eastern and central United States to Florida and west to Texas and Kansas.
Look up Eastern Hognose Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Mildly venomous (rear-fanged); possesses enlarged, ungrooved teeth at the back of the upper jaw (opisthoglyphous).
Danger Level
Harmless to humans; bites are extremely rare as the species prefers elaborate defensive displays over biting.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Dipsadinae, Genus: Heterodon, Species: platirhinos
Conservation
IUCN Least Concern; however, local populations face threats from habitat loss and mistaken identity leading to unnecessary killing.
Physical Description
Heavy-bodied with a distinctive upturned snout. Coloration is highly variable (yellow, gray, brown, or orange) with dark dorsal blotches and a lighter colored underside of the tail.
Size & Dimensions
Specimen appears to be an adult of approximately 60-70 cm; typical adult range is 50-85 cm (max record 115 cm).
Habitat
Typically found in areas with sandy soils, including woodlands, coastal plains, and river valleys; prefers loose soil for burrowing and habitats with high toad populations.
Behavior & Temperament
Famous for dramatic defensive displays including flattening the neck like a cobra, hissing, and if further harassed, 'playing dead' by flipping onto its back with its mouth open.
Diet & Feeding
Specialized predator that feeds almost exclusively on toads (Anaxyrus spp.); uses its upturned snout to dig for prey and specialized teeth to puncture inflated toads.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying); females typically lay 8-40 eggs during early summer, which hatch in late summer or fall.
Venom Profile
Mildly toxic saliva specifically adapted for neutralizing toad toxins; generally non-toxic to humans.
Look-alikes
Often confused with Pygmy Rattlesnakes (Sistrurus miliarius) or Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) due to blotched patterns, but distinguished by its upturned snout.
Conservation Status
IUCN Least Concern; however, local populations face threats from habitat loss and mistaken identity leading to unnecessary killing.
Cultural Significance
Highly valued by herpetologists and wildlife enthusiasts for its unique behaviors; important ecological role in controlling toad populations.
Notable Features
The upturned rostral scale for digging and its ability to drastically change its appearance by flattening its neck (thanatosis behavior).