Plains Hog-nosed Snake
Heterodon nasicus • Order: Squamata; Suborder: Serpentes; Family: Colubridae; Subfamily: Dipsadinae; Genus: Heterodon; Species: H. nasicus
Central North America, ranging from southern Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) through the Great Plains of the United States down into northern Mexico.
Look up Plains Hog-nosed Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Mildly venomous; rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous). They possess Duvernoy's glands that produce specialized saliva.
Danger Level
Low Risk/Harmless. These snakes are non-aggressive toward humans and rarely bite defensively, preferring dramatic bluffs or playing dead.
Family
Order: Squamata; Suborder: Serpentes; Family: Colubridae; Subfamily: Dipsadinae; Genus: Heterodon; Species: H. nasicus
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN), though they have faced local declines due to habitat loss and the decline of amphibian populations.
Physical Description
Thick-bodied with a distinctive upturned snout used for digging. Coloration is typically tan, gray, or yellowish with dark brown circular blotches. The underbelly is usually notably dark or black. They have keeled scales and round pupils.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen in the image appears to be an adult, approximately 40-60 cm. The species typically ranges from 38 to 65 cm, with females being significantly larger than males.
Habitat
Primarily occurs in prairies, grasslands, and floodplains with sandy or gravelly soils suitable for burrowing. They are found at elevations from sea level up to roughly 2,400 meters.
Behavior & Temperament
Famous for elaborate defensive displays: they hiss loudly, flatten their necks like a cobra, and 'strike' with a closed mouth. If this fails, they flip onto their backs, hang their tongues out, and feign death (thanatosis). Primarily diurnal.
Diet & Feeding
Specialized toad hunters (bufophagous). They use their upturned snouts to unearth buried toads and their rear fangs to 'pop' inflated toads. They also eat lizards, small rodents, and eggs.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying). Females lay clutches of 4 to 23 eggs between June and August. The young hatch after approximately 50 to 60 days.
Venom Profile
The venom is adapted for neutralizing amphibians (toads). In humans, it generally causes localized swelling and itching, but is not considered medically significant.
Look-alikes
Often confused with Rattlesnakes (Crotalus spp.) due to their blotched pattern and defensive flattening of the head, but hog-nosed snakes lack a rattle and have a distinct upturned nose.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN), though they have faced local declines due to habitat loss and the decline of amphibian populations.
Cultural Significance
Extremely popular in the exotic pet trade due to their unique appearance and dramatic behaviors. Ecologically significant as a predator that controls amphibian and rodent populations.
Notable Features
The most notable feature is the rostral scale (the snout), which is modified into a shovel-like structure for fossorial (digging) activity.