Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Heterodon platirhinos • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Dipsadidae, Subfamily: Dipsadinae, Genus: Heterodon, Species: H. platirhinos
Eastern and central North America, primarily ranging from southern Ontario through New England down to Florida and west to eastern Texas.
Look up Eastern Hog-nosed Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Dipsadidae, Subfamily: Dipsadinae, Genus: Heterodon, Species: H. platirhinos
Conservation
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, though facing localized declines due to habitat loss and road mortality.
Physical Description
Features a distinctly upturned snout, heavy-bodied proportions, keeled scales, and a striking reddish-orange dorsal coloration with darker blotches.
Size & Dimensions
Specimens typically range from 51 to 115 cm in total length, with adult females generally growing larger than males.
Habitat
Prefers open dry forests, sandy wooded areas, fields, and coastal regions with loose, well-drained soils suitable for burrowing.
Diet & Feeding
Specialized diet consisting almost exclusively of amphibians, particularly toads, captured through active foraging.
Reproduction
Oviparous species that mates in spring and typically lays clutches of 4 to 61 eggs in underground nests during summer.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, though facing localized declines due to habitat loss and road mortality.
Cultural Significance
Acts as an important controller of amphibian populations and is widely recognized for its dramatic anti-predator displays.
Notable Features
Possesses a specialized rostral scale that forms a sharp shovel-like snout used for digging up buried prey.