Plains Hognose Snake

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### Scientific classification

**Kingdom:** Animalia
**Phylum:** Chordata
**Class:** Reptilia
**Order:** Squamata
**Family:** Colubridae
**Genus:** Heterodon
**Species:** Nasicus

The Plains Hognose snake is the most popular Hognose, belonging to the Heterodon genus, to have as a pet. This also means that it's the one with the most morphs and is currently the main focus of this wiki.

## Description

The Plains Hognose snake is a light brown/Tan color with brown spots. Their noses are upturned like a hogs, hence the name. They generally have a brown stripe between the eyes, two spot that starts at both its eyes and goes down the sides of its head, two larger spots above those, and a short stipe on the top of its head. Their bellies have a random assortiment of blank and yellow/white squares, this pattern is often described as checkered.

The Plains Hognose are typically between 40-65 cm (15-25 inches) long. The females are larger than the males. The females tails are usually short and stubby while the males have longer tails.

It's a mildly venomous species, they are not considered dangerous towards humans. No deaths in relation to a Plains hognose bite have been recorded.

## Natural Habitat

The geographic range of Hognoses ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico between Colorado and Wyoming in the west and Illinois in the east. Hognoses typically prefer dry and sandy habitats, such as shortgrass prairies at elevations of 90 to 2400 m. This is because they are a burrowing species. They burrow to look for food, mainly toads as this is their main source of food in the wild.

## Ecology

### Behavior

The Plains Hognose is a crepuscular species, meaning that they most active in the early morning and late evening. They retreat into burrows created by small mammals when not active. They do this to help regulate their temperature. Hognoses hibernate between september and march.

When the Plains Hognose snake feels threatened it will flatten it head and hiss loudly, it will also strike though often with its mouth closed as they typically don't bite even in self defense. If this fails to ward off the threat they will, rather dramatically, play dead. It will turn to face belly up and open its mouth. It is important to remember that though this behavior may seem cute, the snake only employs this method if it's in great distress.

### Diet

Plains Hognose snakes mainly eat toads in the wild, and can sometimes make up to 80% of it diet in certain areas. The snake uses it's rear fangs to punkture the toad as it tries to swell up and escape. Other than toads hognoses have also been found to eat other amphibians, eggs, and insects.

### Reproduction

The mating season for Plains Hognose snakes occurs between June and August. They are polygamous meaning that they will breed with several males and females throughout the mating season. The female lays between 4 to 23 eggs, they are buried in the sand and hatch after 52 to 64 days.

## Care Guide

### Health

2. ↑ Healey, M., (no date). Sexing [online]. ReptiFiles®. [Viewed 26 September 2022]. Available from: https://reptifiles.com/heterodon-hognose-snake-care/hognose-snake-health/sexing/
3. ↑ *Western Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus)*. (n.d.). Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ - Zoo, Botanical Garden and Art Gallery. http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd\_hognose\_snake.php
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Kerns, M., (no date). Heterodon nasicus (nasicus) [online]. *Animal Diversity Web*. [Viewed 28 September 2022]. Available from: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Heterodon\_nasicus/
5. ↑ Healey, M. (n.d.). *What Do Hognose Snakes Eat?* ReptiFiles®. [1]