Southern Hognose Snake

The southern hognose snake has an upturned snout that enables it to dig through the soil.

Despite the ability to produce mild toxins, the southern hognose snake is harmless to people. When threatened, it has a tendency to display some dramatic behavior.

It will try to hiss and puff up its body, and if that fails, it may start playing dead. For this reason, many people also call it a puff adder, but it is not related to the actual puff adders at all.

4 Southern Hognose Snake Amazing Facts

• During the reproductive season, male hognose snakes perform a kind of slithering dance to compete for and attract a mate. Females have been known to have multiple mates per season.
• After mating, the female hognose will lay six to 14 eggs within the sandy soil or underneath logs at some point in the early summer. The eggs will hatch in September or October. The baby hognose snakes use their specialized tooth to break through the surface of the egg. They do not receive any additional care from their family.
• Like many other members of the snake order, the hognose snake has the acute ability to pick up scents by flicking its tongue in the air and pressing the odor molecules against an organ located on the roof of the mouth. This organ has a direct connection to the brain.
• This species is preyed upon by king snakes, indigo snakes, red-tailed hawks, and other carnivorous animals. Eggs and baby hognose are even known to be preyed upon by fire ants.

Evolution and Origins

In the past, Southern hognose snakes were distributed in the Coastal Plain of the eastern United States, spanning from southern North Carolina to southern Mississippi and encompassing the majority of Florida.

The range of the western hognose snake extends from southern Canada all the way through the United States to northern Mexico, and it is commonly found in habitats characterized by sandy or gravelly soils, such as prairies, river floodplains, scrub and grasslands, semi-deserts, and certain semi agricultural regions.

The ventral side of the tail in the southern hognose snake typically exhibits a similar light hue as its belly, while the eastern hognose snake usually displays a darker underside and a lighter-colored tail.

Both species, when threatened, employ defensive behaviors such as hissing, neck spreading, gaping, and playing dead; however, the eastern hognose snake has the ability to flatten its neck to a greater extent.

Where to Find Them

The southern hognose snake has historically been found across the coastal plains of the southeastern United States, from North Carolina down to Florida. Some of their preferred ecosystems include sandhills, pine flatwoods, and coastal dunes. They spend a great deal of their time hiding underground from potential predators.

Scientific Name

The scientific name of the southern hognose snake is Heterodon simus. Heterodon is derived from the combination of two different Greek words: heteros, meaning different, and odon, meaning tooth. This may refer to the unusually enlarged fangs of this genus.

Simos is derived from a Greek word meaning flattened or snub-nosed. The closest living relatives are the eastern hognose, western hognose, and Mexican hognose. Together, they belong to the reptile class, the lizard/snake order, and the diverse snake family of Colubridae.

Population and Conservation Status

According to the IUCN Red List, the southern hognose snake is a vulnerable species. Population estimates put the number of mature individuals at less than 10,000. Habitat loss appears to be the main culprit for its decline. It is endangered in some states and may have already disappeared from Mississippi. Unfortunately, their secretive and elusive nature makes them difficult to study.

How to Identify: Appearance and Description

The southern hognose snake is a small species that only measures about 13 to 24 inches, but it has a comparatively wide and stout body. This species is easy to identify due to the presence of the upturned snout and the red, gray, or light brown color scheme with alternating dark blotches along the back and sides. Baby hognose snakes tend to have a darker underside. As they age, the belly tends to become whiter. Otherwise, though, juveniles tend to look about the same as adults.

Here is how to identify the southern hognose snake:

• Short but wide body, measuring up to 2 feet long
• Upturned snout
• Red, gray, or light brown base color
• Alternating black blotches on the back and sides

How Dangerous Are They?

The southern hognose snake technically does produce a mild toxin in its saliva, but it’s considered completely harmless to humans, so the species is not often identified among the class of venomous snakes. If directly threatened, the southern hognose may bite on rare occasions.

This will cause a bit of pain and swelling, but you should wash out the wound with water and soap to prevent an infection from occurring. Medical attention is not necessary unless the wound becomes worse. A small number of people may have an allergic reaction to the bite. However, no fatalities have ever been reported from this species in particular.

Behavior and Humans

The southern hognose snake can be a little defensive and timid around people. If threatened, it will start to hiss, spread its skin around the head to appear much bigger, and pretend to lash out and bite, although in reality it rarely actually does so. If all that fails, then it may start playing dead by rolling on its back and opening its mouth.

There is nothing to actually fear from this species, but it is a good idea nevertheless to let the snake alone unless you absolutely need to approach one. Nearly all bites come from people attempting to handle them, especially after handling their favorite foods. Fortunately, with enough time and effort, they can become tame around people.

The southern hognose snake is found in various coastal plain ecosystems throughout its natural range in the southeastern United States.