Fauna
Reptile · GBIF taxon 5223729

Southern Hognose Snake

Heterodon simus

Also known as Southern Hog-nosed Snake, Puff Adder, Spreading Adder, Blow Viper

Southern hognose snakes use their sharply upturned, shovel-like snouts to excavate burrows in sandy soils where they search for buried amphibians. When confronted, these dramatic performers flatten their necks, hiss, and roll onto their backs with wide-open mouths to feign death. Declining sharply across their southeastern range, they rely on fire-maintained pine sandhills and loose substrates to survive.

ReptileBurrowingCamouflaged
Southern Hognose Snake reference1 / 5
Licensed reference(c) Court Harding, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Southern Toad
  • Eastern Spadefoot
  • Fowler's Toad
Predators
  • Red-tailed Hawk
  • Eastern Kingsnake
  • Raccoon
ThreatsHabitat destruction, fire suppression, road mortality, and red imported fire ants
HabitatsLongleaf pine sandhills, oak scrub, and pine flatwoods with sandy soil
Life span9–12 years in the wild
Classification
  1. FamilyColubridae
  2. SpeciesHeterodon simus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Recognizable by its small, stout body, sharply upturned snout, and dark dorsal blotches on a tan ground color.
Support conservation
Maintain distance, avoid capture, and submit precise GPS location data strictly to verified conservation programs.
Responsible observation
  • Observation Etiquette: Observe from a few steps back to prevent stress and defensive death-feigning displays.
  • Habitat Protection: Stick to established trails in fragile sandhill habitats to avoid crushing subterranean burrows.
  • Record Encounters: Report sightings to state wildlife agencies to aid ongoing conservation efforts.
Related species
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