Reptile · GBIF taxon 5223729
Southern Hognose Snake
Heterodon simusAlso 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
—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
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
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyColubridae
- SpeciesHeterodon simus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- 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.
Prey (c) evangrimes, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by evangrimes · cc-by
Prey Norman.benton / Public domain · cc0
Predator (c) Amy Huie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) evangrimes, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by evangrimes · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Peter Paplanus, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.