Eastern Hognose Snake
Heterodon platirhinos • Order: Squamata; Suborder: Serpentes; Family: Colubridae; Subfamily: Dipsadinae; Genus: Heterodon; Species: Heterodon platirhinos
Eastern half of the United States, from southern New Hampshire and southern Ontario to southern Florida, and west to southern South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas.
Look up Eastern Hognose Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Mildly venomous (Rear-fanged/Opisthoglyphous); saliva is mildly toxic to prey specifically adapted for amphibians.
Danger Level
Harmless; although they have mild venom for toads, they are extremely reluctant to bite humans and prefer dramatic defensive displays such as playing dead.
Family
Order: Squamata; Suborder: Serpentes; Family: Colubridae; Subfamily: Dipsadinae; Genus: Heterodon; Species: Heterodon platirhinos
Conservation
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. However, they face localized declines due to habitat loss and the decline of amphibian populations.
Physical Description
Thick-bodied with a distinctive upturned snout used for digging. Highly variable in color; this specimen shows a vibrant orange and black blotched pattern. Keeled scales, round pupils, and a wide head that can be flattened like a cobra.
Size & Dimensions
Typically 51-84 cm (20-33 inches) in length, with a maximum recorded length of 115 cm. This specimen appears to be an adult.
Habitat
Prefer areas with sandy or loose soils for burrowing; found in open woodlands, pine forests, coastal scrub, and edges of agricultural fields. Found from sea level to approximately 750 meters.
Behavior & Temperament
Famous for elaborate defensive displays: flattening the neck (hooding), loud hissing, and if further pestered, rolling onto its back to play dead (thanatosis) with mouth open and tongue hanging out. Diurnal activity.
Diet & Feeding
Specialize almost exclusively in toads (Anaxyrus spp.); they possess enlarged rear teeth to puncture 'inflated' toads and specialized adrenal glands to counter toad toxins.
Reproduction
Oviparous; females lay clutches of 8-40 eggs in early summer, which hatch in late summer or autumn. No parental care is provided.
Venom Profile
Mildly toxic saliva with proteolytic properties; intended to neutralize toads. Not considered medically significant to humans.
Look-alikes
Commonly confused with Pygmy Rattlesnakes (Sistrurus spp.) or Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) due to body shape; distinguished by the upturned, shovel-like snout and lack of heat pits or rattles.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. However, they face localized declines due to habitat loss and the decline of amphibian populations.
Cultural Significance
Known colloquially as 'puff adders' or 'spreading adders' due to their hooding behavior. They are ecologically vital for controlling toad and frog populations.
Notable Features
The 'upturned snout' is a highly specialized scale (rostral scale) for fossorial behavior. Their death-feigning display is one of the most convincing and theatrical in the animal kingdom.