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Heterodon platirhinos
Sometimes called "puff adders," eastern hognose snakes are thick-bodied snakes that reach about 46 in (115 cm) long. These snakes are easily distinguished by their upturned snouts, but they are variable in color. The eastern hognose has a background color that can be yellow, gray, brown, green or black, often patterned with large, rectangular spots down the middle of the back that may resemble eyespots. The scales of this snake are keeled and the underside of the tail is usually lighter than the rest of the venter. The females of this species have a tail that has a fine taper to the end of the tail, while the males have a slight bulge near the cloaca and the tail then tapers off drastically. When confronted, the hognose snake will suck in air; spread the skin around its head and neck (like a cobra), hiss, and lunge pretending to strike. Eventually, they will even play dead, rolling on their back and opening their mouth. Often, these displays alone are enough to identify this species. Despite this fairly convincing show, hognose snakes almost never bite.
Found on a sandy road through mostly Pine/Hardwood forest near the Savannah River.
In the attached video the hognose does his threat display pretending to be bigger and badder than he actually is. He kept up the display even after finding cover (we were standing in place and allowing him to escape).
3 Comments
Nice video
And great video too!
Great spotting. I love the "cobra" stance! Just a tip: the habitat box is for information on the habitat of "your spotting". General information including habitat is widely available and can be provided to users by inserting a reference link (e.g. from Wikipedia or Encyclopedia of Life) in one of the spaces provided. However information on your spotting is unique and can only be provided by you! It supplies accessory information on your unique "data point". Here is what Project Noah say about this "Habitat: Please state the actual habitat where you photographed the spotting - this information can then be used to track changes in habitat, such as those caused by human intervention or habitat destruction. Again, it is not necessary to state published habitat information here, this can be referenced in the 'reference links' box." ( http://www.projectnoah.org/faq Look for "What do I put in the fields?). Thanks!