# Heterodon > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Heterodon > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Heterodon.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterodon > Source revision: 1288799380 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Genus of snakes}} {{About|the North American snake|the snake native to Africa|Puff adder}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Heterodon platirhinos head.jpg | image_caption = Eastern hognose snake (''[H. platirhinos](/source/Heterodon_platirhinos)'') | taxon = Heterodon | authority = [Latreille](/source/Pierre_Andr%C3%A9_Latreille) ''in'' [Sonnini](/source/Charles-Nicolas-Sigisbert_Sonnini_de_Manoncourt) & Latreille, 1801 }} '''''Heterodon''''' is a [genus](/source/genus) of harmless [colubrid](/source/Colubridae) [snake](/source/snake)s [endemic](/source/Endemism) to [North America](/source/North_America).Platt, Dwight R. 1983. ''[https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/45231/0315_Heterodon.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Heterodon]''. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, 351: 1-2. They are stout with upturned snouts and are perhaps best known for their characteristic threat displays. Three [species](/source/species) are currently recognized. Members of the genus are commonly known as '''hognose snakes''', '''hog-nosed snakes''',[Wright AH](/source/Albert_Hazen_Wright), Wright AA. 1957. ''Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada''. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. (7th printing, 1985). 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes) {{ISBN|0-8014-0463-0}}. (Genus ''Heterodon'', p. 296 + Figure 25 on p. 81 + Map 28 on p. 298.) '''North American hog-nosed snakes''',{{ITIS |id=174153 |taxon=Heterodon |access-date=30 November 2006}} and colloquially '''puff adders'''{{Cite web |title=Species Profile: Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) {{!}} SREL Herpetology |url=https://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/hetpla.htm |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=srelherp.uga.edu}} (though they should not be confused with the [venom](/source/venom)ous African [viper](/source/Viperidae)s of the genus ''[Bitis](/source/Bitis)''). ==Description== [[Image:Heterodon nasicus.jpg|left|thumb|Western hog-nosed snake (''[H. nasicus](/source/Heterodon_nasicus)'')]] Adults grow to {{convert|30|–|120|cm|in|round=0.5|abbr=on}} in total length. The body is stout and the head is slightly distinct from the neck. The latter is expandable, the anterior ribs being capable of spreading to flatten that portion of the body, similar to a [cobra](/source/Naja). The tail is short and the [anal scale](/source/anal_scale) divided. The [dorsal scales](/source/dorsal_scales) are keeled with apical pits in 23-25 rows. The [rostral scale](/source/rostral_scale) is projecting, upturned, recurved and keeled dorsally. There are usually 1-20 accessory scales (azygous) that separate the [internasals](/source/internasals) and the [prefrontals](/source/prefrontal_scales). A subocular ring is present with 8-12 [ocular scales](/source/ocular_scales). There are 7-8 [upper labials](/source/upper_labials) and 9-13 [lower labials](/source/lower_labials). The [ventrals](/source/ventrals) number 114–152 and the [subcaudals](/source/subcaudals) 27–60. The color pattern is extremely variable. ''[H. nasicus](/source/Heterodon_nasicus)'' tends to be sandy-colored with black and white markings, while ''[H. platirhinos](/source/Heterodon_platirhinos)'' varies from [red](/source/red)s, [green](/source/green)s, [orange](/source/Orange_(color))s, [brown](/source/brown)s, to [black](/source/black) depending on locality. They are sometimes blotched and sometimes solid-colored. Members of this genus have enlarged rear maxillary teeth, two on each side, and possess a slightly toxic [saliva](/source/saliva). In a few cases involving bites from ''[H. nasicus](/source/Heterodon_nasicus)'', the symptoms reported have ranged from none at all to mild tingling, swelling and itchy skin. Nevertheless, they are generally considered to be harmless to humans.[http://www.hognose.com/pages/venomous.htm Are Hognosed Snakes Venomous?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107134605/http://www.hognose.com/pages/venomous.htm |date=2006-11-07 }} at [http://www.hognose.com/ Hognose.com]. Accessed 2 August 2008. Hognose snakes' most distinguishing characteristic is their upturned snout, which is believed to aid in digging in sandy soils. ==Behavior== When threatened, the hognose snake will flatten its neck and raise its head off the ground, similar to a [cobra](/source/cobra), and hiss.{{cite news |last1=Hennes |first1=Rebecca |title=Rare, cobra-like snake spotted at Brazos Bend State Park after floodwaters recede |url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/fortbend/news/article/Rare-cobra-like-snake-spotted-at-Brazos-Bend-13871320.php |access-date=18 October 2024 |work=Chron |publisher=Houston Chronicle |date=May 22, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Don’t Be Fooled by New York’s Rare ‘Cobra-Like’ Snake | url=https://wrrv.com/identify-eastern-hognose-snake-ny/ |website=WRRV |access-date=18 October 2024}} It may sometimes feign strikes, but is extremely reluctant to bite. This behavior has earned the hognose snake several nicknames, such as "blowing adder", "flathead", "spreading adder", or "hissing adder". If this threat display does not work to deter a would-be predator, the hognose snake will often roll onto its back and play dead with its [mouth](/source/mouth) open and [tongue](/source/tongue) lolling, going as far as to emit a foul musk from the [cloaca](/source/cloaca). Emission of cloacal musk is considerably less likely than in many other species. If the snake is rolled upright while in this state, it will often roll over again as if to insist that it is really dead.{{cite web|url=https://eartharchives.org/articles/hognose-snake-s-dramatic-fake-death-video/index.html|title=Hognose snake’s dramatic fake death (video)|last=Anthony|first=Franz|date=2018|website=Earth Archives|access-date=23 March 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230323141432/https://eartharchives.org/articles/hognose-snake-s-dramatic-fake-death-video/index.html|archive-date=23 March 2023|url-status=live}} Unfortunately due to their appearance and impressive [defensive display](/source/defensive_display), hognose snakes are commonly mistaken to be [copperhead](/source/Agkistrodon_contortrix)s and subsequently killed. This is especially true in the southeastern regions of the United States, where copperheads are especially prevalent by comparison to other areas it shares with the hognose.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090909202242/http://www.southernzombie.com/not_a_copperhead.html It's not a copperhead!]}} at {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090908101005/http://www.southernzombie.com/ southernzombie.com]}}. Accessed 31 August 2009. ==Feeding== Hognose snakes live chiefly on toads and can neutralize that animal’s poisonous skin secretions physiologically. ==Captivity== Hognose snakes are frequently found in the exotic pet trade. ''H. nasicus'' are often considered to be the easiest to care for, and captive-bred stock is easily found. ''H. platirhinos '' is commonly found, but their dietary requirements can be a challenge for some keepers. ==Species== {|cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 border=1 style="border-collapse: collapse;" !bgcolor="#f0f0f0"|Species !bgcolor="#f0f0f0"|Authority !bgcolor="#f0f0f0"|Subsp.* !bgcolor="#f0f0f0"|Common name !bgcolor="#f0f0f0"|Geographic range[Behler JL](/source/John_L._Behler), King FW. 1979. ''The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians''. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp. LCCCN 79-2217. {{ISBN|0-394-50824-6}}. |- |''[H. kennerlyi](/source/Heterodon_kennerlyi)'' |[Kennicott](/source/Robert_Kennicott), 1860 |align="center"|0 |Mexican hognose snake |Southern [Texas](/source/Texas) into northern [Mexico](/source/Mexico). Sometimes considered a subspecies of ''H. nasicus'' |- |''[H. nasicus](/source/Western_hognose_snake)'' |[Baird](/source/Spencer_Fullerton_Baird) & [Girard](/source/Charles_Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Girard), 1852 |align="center"|2 (sometimes elevated to species status, based on two scale characters){{cite journal|last1=Smith|first1=H. M.|last2=Chiszar|first2=D.|last3=Eckerman|first3=C. M.|last4=Walley|first4=H. D.|title=The taxonomic status of the Mexican Hognose Snake Heterodon kennerlyi Kennicott (1860)|journal=Journal of Kansas Herpetology|date=2003|volume=5|pages=17–20|url=http://cnah.org/khs/pubs/JKH_5.pdf#page=19|access-date=2018-05-15|archive-date=2018-05-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516014717/http://cnah.org/khs/pubs/JKH_5.pdf#page=19|url-status=dead}} |Western hognose snake |style="width:40%"|Southeastern [Alberta](/source/Alberta) and southwestern [Manitoba](/source/Manitoba) in [Canada](/source/Canada), south to southeastern [Arizona](/source/Arizona) and [Texas](/source/Texas) in the [United States](/source/United_States). Disjunct populations in [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota), [Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin), [Iowa](/source/Iowa), [Illinois](/source/Illinois), [Missouri](/source/Missouri) and [Arkansas](/source/Arkansas). |- |''[H. platirhinos](/source/Heterodon_platirhinos)'' |[Latreille](/source/Pierre_Andr%C3%A9_Latreille), 1801 |align="center"|0 |Eastern hognose snake |United States: eastern-central Minnesota to extreme southern [New Hampshire](/source/New_Hampshire), south to southern [Florida](/source/Florida) and west to eastern Texas and western [Kansas](/source/Kansas). |- |''[H. simus](/source/Heterodon_simus)'' |([Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus), 1766) |align="center"|0 |Southern hognose snake |United States: from the coastal plains in southeast [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina), south to [Lake Okeechobee](/source/Lake_Okeechobee) in Florida and west to southeastern [Mississippi](/source/Mississippi). |- |} ''* Not including the [nominate subspecies](/source/Nominotypical_subspecies)'' ==References== {{Reflist}} == External links == {{Commons category|Heterodon}} * {{NRDB genus|genus=Heterodon|date=14 September|year=2007}} ==Further reading== *[Goin, Coleman J.](/source/%3Afr%3AColeman_Jett_Goin); Olive B. Goin; George R. Zug. (1978). ''Introduction to Herpetology, Third Edition''. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman. xi + 378 pp. {{ISBN|0-7167-0020-4}}. (''Heterodon'', pp. 149, 167, 328-329.) *[Latreille, P.A.](/source/Pierre_Andr%C3%A9_Latreille) ''In'' [Sonnini, C.S.](/source/Charles-Nicolas-Sigisbert_Sonnini_de_Manoncourt) and P.A. Latreille. (1801). ''Histoire naturelle des reptiles, avec figures dessinées d'apres nature; Tome IV. Seconde Partie. Serpens.'' Paris: Crapelet. 410 pp. (Genus ''Heterodon'', p. 32.) *[Schmidt, K.P.](/source/Karl_Patterson_Schmidt), and D.D. Davis. 1941. ''Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada''. G.P. Putnam's Sons. New York. 365 pp. ("THE HOG-NOSED SNAKES ''(Heterodon)''", pp. 115–118, Figures 25. & 26. + Plate 11 on p. 331.) *[Zim, H.S.](/source/Herbert_S._Zim), and [H.M. Smith](/source/Hobart_Muir_Smith). 1956. ''Reptiles and Amphibians: A Guide to Familiar Species''. A Golden Nature Guide. Simon and Schuster. New York. 160 pp. ("HOG-NOSED SNAKE", "''Heterodon nasicus'' and ''H. platyrhinos'' [sic]", pp. 81, 156.) {{Taxonbar|from=Q2698783}} Category:Heterodon Category:Snake genera Category:Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Heterodon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterodon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterodon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.