Eastern Hognose Snake

      

 

 

 

       Pugnose would have been a nicer name than hognose, and certainly friendlier sounding than Heterodon platirhinos, its formal name.   A snake with so much personality deserves a more suitable name.   Rodney Dangersnake, Mr. Snakepants, Class Clown Snake. 

      The upturned snout is the snake’s most distinguishing feature.  Otherwise, it can be tricky to identify.  Its background color can be gray, yellow, brown, green or black – sometimes, not always, patterned with large, rectangular spots down its back.  The hognose seems to want to amuse us with a color wheel of possibilities.  Perhaps it is compensating for its nose. 

       The defense mechanisms are what make the hognose snake such an entertainer.  It has been called a “puff adder” because when confronted, it will suck in air to inflate the area around its head so that it almost looks like a cobra.  Then it will lunge, like it is going to strike, but it never even opens its mouth.  The hognose pretends to be fierce but is a complete fake.

      Speaking of fake, if the fierce cobra imitation doesn’t frighten you, the hognose has another trick up its sleeve, so to speak.  It will play dead.  Not just a limp fake dead, but a full blown play dead trick like you might teach your dog.  It will roll over onto its back and lie motionless with its mouth open.  Can your dog do that?  This snake goes to great lengths to avoid real confrontation.

      If you don’t think this snake is interesting by now, consider its feeding habits.  It adores toads.  It even has a special set of fangs near the back of its mouth – making toad eating easier.  When a toad deploys its clever defense mechanism, which is puffing itself up with air to become bigger, the rear teeth of the hognose can pop a puffed up toad like a balloon.  But what about toxic toads?  No problem, the hognose is immune.  There isn’t a toad out there that can outsmart a hognose.  

     Unless you are a toad, you have no reason to fear the hognose snake.  If you are lucky enough to come across a super nice, fun-loving, toad eating snake, please leave it alone.  Remember, snakes are protected in Virginia, making it illegal to kill them.