Western hognose snakes are one of the fun, adorable, and interesting species to be kept as pets. Who can't say no to that cute snoot. The namesake characteristic is their upturned rostral scale which is reminiscent of a pig's snout. The western hognose snake uses this upturned snout to burrow through dirt in search of prey, typically toads. Other options may include; frogs, lizards, mice, and small birds. While not dangerous to humans, they are considered venomous and have the ability to subdue its prey with mild toxins in their saliva.
One of the most amusing characteristics of this animal is they are known to be master bluffers when feeling threatened. This snake has the ability to flatten the skin on it's neck giving it a hooded appearance, and is often mistaken for a cobra-type snake. This in conjunction with a loud hissing noise created by releasing air through it's nostrils, can be very threatening to anyone considering this snake for a meal.
If the snake is not left alone, they will then fall over and pretend to be dead in order to become less appealing as a meal. They will roll over exposing their belly, open their mouth, and let their tongue stick out. They may even bleed from their mouth and anal opening, as well as expelling feces and other offensive smells to make itself seem less appealing.
Western hognose snakes have enlarged, rear maxillary fangs that they use to attach themselves to their prey. These teeth allow for a stronger grip on the prey, and introduction of venom from the salivary gland into the wound. Envenomation of humans is fairly rare, since these snakes do not tend to bite humans unless they think there's food involved.
Western hognose snakes exhibit sexual dimorphism (meaning males and females are physically different as adults), with males typically in the smaller range. Their length vary between 12 - 36 inches. Males tend to have a longer tail with a taper, whereas females tend to have a short stubby tail.
These snakes have a mild, docile temperament, and are easy to handle. Due to their small size and temperament, they make a wonderful first pet.
Resources:
Averill-Murray, Roy. “Natural History of the Western Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon nasicus) with Notes on Envenomation.” Sonoran Hetologist, vol. 19, no. 9, 2006, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Roy-Averill-Murray/publication/242470243_Natural_History_of_the_Western_Hog-nosed_Snake_Heterodon_nasicus_with_Notes_on_Envenomation/links/54be9d1c0cf28ce68e69e950/Natural-History-of-the-Western-Hog-nosed-Snake-Heterodon-nasicus-with-Notes-on-Envenomation.pdf.
Comments