Eastern Hognose Snake
Heterodon platirhinos • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Dipsadinae, Genus: Heterodon, Species: Heterodon platirhinos
Eastern United States, from southern New Hampshire and southern Ontario to southern Florida and west to Texas, Kansas, and South Dakota.
Look up Eastern Hognose Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Mildly venomous (Rear-fanged / Opisthoglyphous)
Danger Level
Harmless/Low Risk; they rarely bite and are not considered a medical threat to humans or pets.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Dipsadinae, Genus: Heterodon, Species: Heterodon platirhinos
Conservation
IUCN Status: Least Concern. Populations are globally stable but can be locally threatened by habitat loss and the decline of amphibian prey.
Physical Description
Variable in color, featuring a stout body with a distinctive upturned 'hog-like' snout. Patterns include patches of brown, gray, or tan, but solid black individuals occur. The pupils are round.
Size & Dimensions
Typically ranges from 50 to 80 cm (20 to 30 inches), with maximum lengths reaching 115 cm (45 inches). This specimen appears to be an average-sized adult.
Habitat
Found in areas with sandy or loose soils including woodlands, fields, and coastal areas; prefers habitats that facilitate burrowing and support toad populations.
Behavior & Temperament
Highly defensive but not aggressive. When threatened, they flatten their necks (hooding), hiss loudly, and strike with a closed mouth. If this fails, they often play dead (thanatosis) by rolling onto their backs.
Diet & Feeding
Specially adapted to eat toads. They use their upturned snout to dig for prey and specialized rear fangs to puncture and deflate toads that have puffed up defensively.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying), typically producing clutches of 8 to 40 eggs in early summer, which hatch in late summer or autumn.
Venom Profile
The venom is specialized for neutralizing toads; it is generally harmless to humans, though some individuals may experience local swelling.
Look-alikes
Often confused with Rattlesnakes (Crotalus) or Copperheads (Agkistrodon) due to their stout body and defensive behavior. Distinguished by their upturned snout and round pupils.
Conservation Status
IUCN Status: Least Concern. Populations are globally stable but can be locally threatened by habitat loss and the decline of amphibian prey.
Cultural Significance
A favorite among herpetologists for its dramatic displays; acts as an important ecological control for toad populations and an indicator of healthy sandy-soil ecosystems.
Notable Features
Famous for its elaborate 'zombie' act where it rolls over, hangs its tongue out, and may even emit a foul musk to mimic a rotting corpse to deter predators.