Eastern Hognose Snake

Heterodon platirhinos

The Eastern Hognose Snake is a fun snake that loves to dig in the sand! It has a funny upturned nose that helps it burrow and find food. This snake is known for its playful behavior and can even pretend to be a cobra when it feels scared!

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Eastern Hognose Snake has a distinct, shovel-like upturned snout, perfect for digging. Its stout body varies greatly in color, from brown, gray, or olive to black, often with dark blotches or a solid pattern. This unique nose makes it visually different from other local snakes.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassSquamataOrderSerpentesFamilyColubridaeGenusHeterodon

Eastern Hognose Snake

Interesting facts

Even with their scary cobra act and playing dead, Eastern Hognose Snakes rarely bite humans!

Some people call them 'puff adders' because they hiss loudly and puff up when startled!

Their venom is harmless to humans, but it helps them stun their toad snacks!

These snakes are immune to the strong toxins found in toads, making them super special eaters!

Special abilities

Eastern Hognose Snake can play dead, flipping over and going limp, which helps them trick predators into thinking they are unappetizing.

Eastern Hognose Snake can flatten its neck and hiss loudly, which helps them appear larger and scarier to intimidate threats.

Eastern Hognose Snake has an upturned, shovel-like snout that helps them dig into soft soil to find prey and burrow for shelter.

Eastern Hognose Snake has mild venom and enlarged rear fangs that helps them subdue their favorite meal: toads.

Measurements & details

Length: 50-120 cm
Weight: 0.15-0.7 kg
Lifespan: 10-20 years
Top Speed: 3 km/h
Clutch Size: 4-23
Incubation: 40-60 days

Diet & Feeding

Mostly eat toads, but will sometimes munch on frogs and other small critters!

Primary Foods

toads
frogs
salamanders
small rodents

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eats

American Toad

Anaxyrus americanus

Their primary food source.

eaten by

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

A common aerial predator.

eaten by

Eastern Kingsnake

Lampropeltis getula

Known to prey on other snakes.

eats

Fowler's Toad

Anaxyrus fowleri

Another common amphibian prey.

Traits

Solitary

Meet animals that enjoy their independence! These creatures prefer to live by themselves, finding food and shelter on their own.

Burrowing

Dig deep and discover animals that build amazing homes underground! They create tunnels and chambers to stay safe, find food, or escape the weather.

Camouflaged

Look closely for animals that are masters of disguise, blending perfectly into their surroundings! Their colors and patterns help them hide from others.

Colorful

Discover amazing plants and animals that show off a dazzling array of bright and beautiful hues! They use their vibrant colors to attract attention or send signals.