| Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) Latreille, 1801 |
| Synonyms: Heterodon browni, Heterodon contortrix, Heterodon niger, Eastern Hog-nosed Snake |
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Heterodon platirhinos occurs in the North American continent from central Minnesota, southern Ontario and southern New England to Texas, the Gulf Coast, and Florida (Map). It is found in areas with dry, loose soils in deciduous and pine forests and woodlands, prairies, meadows, pastures, and riparian zones. This is a moderately sized, thick-bodied snake, 50-115 cm in length; brown, reddish, gray, or black in colour; blotched, checkered, or patternless (see below). The head is wide, with a flattened, upturned snout used for digging in sandy soils. When threatened, this species may flatten its neck and body, and raise the head off the ground, in a cobra-like fashion. If it does not deter a predator, H. platirhinos will often play dead, rolling onto its back and letting its tongue hang out of its mouth. Eastern Hognose Snake feeds almost extensively on amphibians, primarily toads. This is a rear-fanged species having enlarged teeth at the rear the upper jaw, injecting mild amphibian-specific venom into prey. Although H. platirhinos is still locally common, it has declined in many parts of its range because of habitat loss, road mortality, and intentional killing. Currently included in the subfamily Dipsadinae (or Dipsadidae), although sometimes in Xenodontinae or Carphophiinae.
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9070 Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) Long Point, Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved |
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