Reptile · GBIF taxon 5223730
Eastern Hognose Snake
Heterodon platirhinosAlso known as Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, Puff Adder, Spreading Adder, Blow Viper
Famous for dramatic theatrical defenses, the eastern hognose snake flattens its head and neck like a cobra, loudly hissed, and strikes with a closed mouth when cornered. If this bluff fails, it rolls onto its back, hangs its tongue out, and plays dead until danger passes. Its spade-like upturned snout is a specialized adaptation for digging through loose, sandy soil to unearth burrowed toads.
Harmless BluffReptileAmphibian Hunter
1 / 7—observations
—countries
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- American Toad
- Fowler's Toad
- Spadefoot Toads
Predators
- Raptors
- Foxes
- Larger Snakes
ThreatsRoad mortality, habitat loss, human persecution
HabitatsSandy woodland, pine barrens, open fields, forest edges
Life span9–12 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyColubridae
- SpeciesHeterodon platirhinos
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; non-aggressive and harmless to humans.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by its stocky body, upturned snout, variable color pattern, and habit of flattening its neck into a cobra-like hood.
- Support conservation
- Keep a respectful distance, avoid harassing the animal, and let it clear its defensive display without cornering it.
Responsible observation
- Observe Display: Watch from a few paces away if it flattens its neck, allowing it to relax and move on naturally.
- Do Not Touch: Avoid picking up or handling the snake, which causes intense stress and can provoke death-feigning or regurgitation.
- Protect Habitat: Keep distance in sandy field edges where toads and snakes actively forage.
Primary Prey Cephas / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Look-alike Wikimedia Commons / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative (c) Peter Paplanus, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative
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