Download Eastern Hog-nosed Snake - The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

Fact Sheet: Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Heterodon platirhinos
Description:
 Size:
o Length: up to 3.75 ft (115 cm)
 Sexual dimorphism:
o Males typically have proportionately longer tails
o Females are longer and heavier on average, and typically have more blotches on
their back
 Physical Description: A stocky, medium-length snake characterized by a wide head,
upturned scales on the tip of the snout, and enlarged teeth towards the rear of the
mouth
 Coloration: Two color phases exist:
o 1: Numerous dark blotches arranged in rows that run down the length of the
spine with a background color that may include gray, tan, pink, yellow, orange,
and red
o 2: A melanistic (heavily pigmented) phase that is nearly uniform black, with slight
gray peppering on the tail and underside
o The underside of both phases is typically cream to dark gray
In the Wild
Habitat and Range:
 Geographic range: Occurs extensively throughout North America east of the Rocky
Mountains. The species is primarily found north of the Gulf of Mexico into areas of
southern Canada, though they are absent from several areas near the Great Lakes.
 Preferred habitat: Areas with loose, dry soil are the most preferable habitat, though
they can be found ecotonal areas where differing habitats meet, or in urban areas given
suitable patches of habitat. Avoid aquatic areas except to move between feeding areas.
Diet:
 Carnivore:
o Primarily adapted to eating toads and frogs, but they may also consume
salamanders, small birds, mammals, reptiles, eggs, and insects
Adaptations:
 Upturned scales: Scales on the snout are used to push soil out of the way to facilitate
digging
 Rear-fangs: Large teeth located near the rear of the mouth are thought to be used to
puncture a toad that self-inflates defensively, though this has never been witnessed
 Specialized hormones: While many toads secrete toxins through their skin, hormones
2/24/2016
Eastern Hognose Snake
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
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produced by hog-nosed snakes neutralize the poison and allow the snakes to safely
consume toads
Amphibian-specific toxin: The snake’s saliva contains chemical compounds that serve to
subdue amphibian species, though it does not affect most non-amphibian species. Very
few humans are affected by this toxin.
Defensive behavior: After being cornered, the first reaction of a hog-nosed snake is to
inflate the head and body to attain a cobra-like appearance, coil the body with an
elevated head, rapidly hiss, and strike without actually biting. If this does not deter the
intruder and the would-be predator makes contact with the snake, it will begin to thrash
and writhe while defecating and excreting musk, which is then spread across the snakes
body by its thrashing motion. It may also vomit its previous meal. After a minute or so of
this behavior, the snake will lie on its back and become completely limp. It then stays in
this position until the predator has left the area.
Lifespan:
 Wild: Unknown
 Captivity: Up to 11 years
Ecosystem relationships:
 Predators: Any medium to large carnivore, but primarily larger snakes and hawks, may
eat this snake at any of its life stages
 Interspecies competitors: Mainly other predators, including snakes, birds of prey, and
mammalian carnivores
 Role/ Niche: Mostly function as a secondary consumer that suppresses amphibian
populations
Reproduction:
 Breeding season: Spring
 Gestation: Unknown, but eggs are typically laid in the months of June, July, and August,
and hatch after a 2 month incubation period
 Clutch size: A typical clutch ranges from 15-35 eggs
 Maturation: Sexually mature at around 2 years of age, but continue to grow in size for
the entirety of the snake’s life
Activity:
 Diurnal
Other “fun facts”:
 Other names: Also known as the puff adder, spearhead, hissing adder, sand viper,
possum snake, puff head, or bull adder, in addition to numerous other colloquial names.
Many of these names are misnomers, as “adder” and “viper” are typically reserved for
highly venomous snakes.
2/24/2016
Eastern Hognose Snake
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
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Name: The genus name comes from the Latin heteros, meaning “different,” and odon,
meaning toothy, referring to the differently sized teeth present in the mouth of this
snake, while the species name platirhinos is from the Latin platys, meaning “broad or
flat,” and rhinos, meaning snout, which is a reference to the large scales on this specie’s
nose.
Playing possum: When feigning death, if the snake is taken and placed on its venter
(underside of the body), it will turn itself until it is resting on its back. It will repeat this
behavior as long as it is being antagonized.
Conservation Status and Threats:
 Listed on the IUCN Red List as least concern.
o The species has a wide range and is not thought to be in decline. While wild
numbers are not well known, they are almost certainly well in excess of 100,000
individuals, and are fairly common in all parts of their range.
 CITES: no special status
 Conservation efforts:
o There are currently no major efforts directed towards hognose snake
conservation
o Because this snake’s major threat is habitat loss, any initiative the preserves
natural habitat directly benefits this animal
At the Zoo
Vader is the Maryland Zoo’s hognose ambassador. He hatched at Seneca Park Zoo in New York
in August 2008. Additionally, the Maryland Zoo houses eastern hognose snakes on exhibit in the
Maryland Wilderness.
What We Can Do
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Make environmentally responsible lifestyle decisions to help conserve habitat –
conserve energy, reduce litter and pollution
Make sure you know the origin of the products you buy – opt for fake leather over snake
skin products
o All of our shopping choices can have an impact on the environment and wildlife
so when available opt for recycled and local products
o Research responsible companies that do not use animal based products or
testing
Do your research before buying a pet
o Make sure you are not purchasing a wild-caught individual – captive-bred species
are often easy to find
o Make sure you know how to properly care for any animal before you decide to
buy it as a pet
 Some things to consider include adequate housing, diet, temperature
requirements, and lifespan
 Some pets also require a lot of time and money to be properly cared for
2/24/2016
Eastern Hognose Snake
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
References:
 ADW: http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Heterodon_platirhinos/
 IUCN Red List: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/63820/0
 Savannah River Ecology Lab: http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/hetpla.htm
 Mitchell, Joseph C. The Reptiles of Virginia. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution,
1994. 213-16. Print.
2/24/2016
Eastern Hognose Snake
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore