Eastern Hognose snake
Heterodon platirhinos
Conservation Status:
Photographed by Fern Crossway
Description
The eastern hognose snake grows to about one and a half to three feet long. It may be brown, yellow, or tan, with a dark diamond shaped pattern. Sometimes this snake may be solid black or gray with no pattern. The stomach is yellow in color, and the head is flattened with an upturned snout. Females are generally larger than males.
Habitat
Hognose snakes are most common in areas with loose soil that they can burrow in. Sandy wooded habitats, forest edges, and open fields are all common habitats for this species.
Behavior
This species spends a lot of time in burrows. They mostly eat toads, and are resistant to the toxins that they produce.
When threatened, it is common for hognose snakes to play dead or falsely bite– striking with a closed mouth. They also may flatten their neck to make themselves look bigger. Although considered non-venomous, these snakes are rear-fanged with mild venom that is specific to amphibians. Humans who are allergic to their saliva may experience increased pain and swelling when bit by a hognose. They mate in April and May, and lay around 25 eggs in burrows in the summer.
Range
Present
Eastern Hognose Snake
Photographed by Fern Crossway
Often Confused with
Timber Rattlesnake
Photographed by Eric M. Powell
Hognose snakes can be distinguished from other species in the state by looking at its upturned nose. Rattlesnakes are larger and generally longer than hognoses, with a distinct rattle at the end of the tail. They also have a triangular shaped head and a vertical pupil slit.