The average adult measures in total length, with females being larger than males. The maximum recorded total length is. The most distinguishing feature is the upturned snout, used for digging in sandy soils. The color pattern is extremely variable. It can be red, green, orange, brown, gray to black, or any combination thereof depending on locality. They can be blotched, checkered, or patternless. The belly tends to be a solid gray, yellow, or cream-colored. In this species the underside of the tail is lighter than the belly.
Venom
Although H. platirhinos is rear-fanged, it is often considered nonvenomous because it is not harmful to humans. Heterodon means "different tooth", which refers to the enlarged teeth at the rear of the upper jaw. These teeth inject a mild amphibian-specific venom into prey. Bitten humans who are allergic to the saliva have been known to experience local swelling, but no human deaths have been documented.
Common names
Eastern hog-nosed snake, spreading adder, spread'em outer, hog-nosed snake, adder, bastard rattlesnake, black adder, black blowing viper, black hog-nosed snake, black viper snake, blauser, blower, blowing adder, blowing snake, blow viper, blow snake, buckwheat-nose snake, calico snake, checkered adder, checquered adder, chunk head, common hog-nosed snake, common spreading adder, deaf adder, eastern hognose snake, flat-head, flat-head adder, hay-nose snake, hissing adder, hissing snake, hog-nosed adder, hog-nosed rattler, hog-nose snake, hog-nosed viper, hissing viper, moccasin, North American adder, North American hog-nosed snake, pilot, poison viper, puff adder, red snake, rock adder, rossel bastard, sand adder, sand viper, spotted adder, spread nelly, spread-head moccasin, spread-head snake, spread-head viper, flat-head adder viper.
Conservation status
This species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, it is a species of increasing conservation concern, especially in the northeastern part of its range. Of the five states in the northeast U.S. where the eastern hognose snake occurs, it currently has "listed" conservation status in four. Noted declines are believed to be the result of direct anthropogenic pressures including habitat loss and fragmentation, road mortality, environmental degradation, and intentional killing.
Defensive behavior
When threatened, the neck is flattened and the head is raised off the ground, not unlike a cobra. They also hiss and will strike, but they do not attempt to bite. The result can be likened to a high speed head-butt. If this threat display does not work to deter a would-be predator, a hognose snake will often roll onto its back and play dead, going so far as to emit a foul musk from its cloaca and let its tongue hang out of its mouth.
Feeding
The Eastern hognose snake feeds extensively on amphibians, and has a particular fondness for toads. This snake has resistance to the toxins toads secrete. This immunity is thought to come from enlarged adrenal glands which secrete large amounts of hormones to counteract the toads' powerful skin poisons. At the rear of each upper jaw, they have greatly enlarged teeth, which are neither hollow nor grooved, with which they puncture and deflate toads to be able to swallow them whole. They will also consume other amphibians, like frogs and salamanders.
Captivity
Eastern hognose snakes are occasionally available in the exotic pet trade, but due to their specific dietary requirements, they are not as readily available as other species. Generally, they refuse feeder rodents unless they are scented with amphibians. In Canada, Eastern hognose snakes are considered to be a species-at-risk, and consequently capture or harassment of these animals, including their captive trade, is illegal. These snakes live for approximately 12 years. They shed their skin periodically to grow and develop.
Reproduction
Eastern hognose snakes mate in April and May. The females, which lay 8 - 40 eggs in June or early July, do not take care of the eggs or young. The eggs, which measure about, hatch after about 60 days, from late July to September. The hatchlings are long.
