Stats

Lifespan

10-18 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Carnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Temperate grassland

Range

North America

Movement

Slithering

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Camouflage

Status

Rare

About

The Plains Hognose Snake uses its distinctive upturned snout like a shovel to dig toads out of sandy soil. When threatened, it stages an elaborate death performance — flattening its neck like a cobra, writhing dramatically, and then flipping belly-up to play dead.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling

   A miniature snake emerges from the egg or from its mother (live-bearers), already venomous or strong-coiled in some species.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile sheds its skin, grows quickly, and hunts smaller prey than the adults.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult length and pattern.

Learn more

• Read on Wikipedia →
• View on iNaturalist →
• Watch on YouTube →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Reptilia

Order

Squamata

Family

Colubridae

Genus

Heterodon

Species

Heterodon nasicus