Eastern Hognose Snake
Heterodon platirhinos • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Dipsadinae, Genus: Heterodon, Species: H. platirhinos
Eastern North America, from southern Ontario, Canada, through the eastern United States to Florida and west to Texas and Minnesota.
Look up Eastern Hognose Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Mildly venomous (Rear-fanged/Opisthoglyphous); they possess enlarged teeth at the rear of the upper jaw.
Danger Level
Harmless/Low Risk; extremely reluctant to bite humans, typically relying on dramatic defensive displays instead.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Dipsadinae, Genus: Heterodon, Species: H. platirhinos
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN); however, populations are declining in some northern areas due to habitat loss and decline of amphibian prey.
Physical Description
High variable coloration, this specimen shows greyish-brown with dark blotches. Features a distinctive upturned snout used for digging, keeled scales, and a wide neck that can be flattened into a hood.
Size & Dimensions
Specimen appears to be a juvenile/sub-adult approx. 10-14 inches. Adults typically range from 20 to 33 inches (maximum recorded ~45 inches).
Habitat
Found in areas with sandy soils, including woodlands, coastal scrub, pine forests, and agricultural fields. Prefers loose substrate for burrowing.
Behavior & Temperament
Famous for elaborate defensive displays including flattening the neck (hooding), loud hissing, and 'playing dead' (thanatosis) by rolling on its back with mouth open.
Diet & Feeding
Specialized toad hunter; uses upturned snout to find buried toads and rear fangs to puncture inflated toads and deliver mild toxins. Also eats frogs and salamanders.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying); females lay clutches of 8 to 40 eggs in early summer, which hatch in late summer or autumn.
Venom Profile
Amphibian-specialized mild venom with proteolytic and hemorrhagic activity; not medically significant to healthy humans.
Look-alikes
Commonly confused with Rattlesnakes (Crotalus) or Copperheads (Agkistrodon) due to blotched patterns and hooding behavior, but distinguished by the upturned snout and lack of heat pits.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN); however, populations are declining in some northern areas due to habitat loss and decline of amphibian prey.
Cultural Significance
Commonly known by nicknames like 'Puff Adder' or 'Spread-head' due to its defensive behavior. Highly valued by enthusiasts for its unique appearance and dramatic 'acting.'
Notable Features
Includes physiological adaptations to neutralize toad toxins and a specialized rostrum (upturned nose) for fossorial (burrowing) activity.