Eastern Hognose Snake playing dead when threatened. (Heterodon platirhinos) An adult eastern hognose snake grows to be about 28 inches long. The male snakes are smaller than the females. The longest eastern hognose snake on record measures at 46 inches.
Virginia Herpetological Society:
https://www.virginiaherpetologicalsoc...
The hognose snake plays dead when threatened, the eastern hognose snake neck flattens it's head out and postures like a cobra while making hissing sounds. They also hiss and will strike, but really don't attempt to bite. If this method doesn't work to deter a predator's attack, the hognose snake will emit a musk from it's cloaca (butt hole) and roll around in it upside down covering itself and then the eastern hognose snake plays dead. So you basically get a stinky dead looking snake. Watch this eastern hognose snake playing dead, like an award winning actor.
University of Georgia Herpetology program:
https://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/hetpl...
Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Dipsadidae
Genus: Heterodon
Amphibians and Reptiles of North Carolina:
http://herpsofnc.org/eastern-hognose-...
The eastern hognose snake preys on amphibians, like frogs, toads and salamanders. These snakes have large teeth in the rear upper jaw that they use to puncture an inflated toad so they can swallow them.
Wikipedia Link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern...
The eastern hognose snake playing dead is it's last resort since it's bite is not venomous to humans. Is the eastern hognose snakes venomous? The answer is, Yes and No. Hognose snakes are considered nonvenomous because their venom is so mild and not venomous to humans. Their fangs are in the rear and they inject mild venom into their prey, such as frogs and mice.
Wildlife Journal Junior PBS:
https://nhpbs.org/wild/easternhognose...
Eastern hognose snakes vary in color. You can find them brown, orange, red, green, shades of gray and black, like the one in this video that was seen in central Virginia. You will also see the hognose in various color patterns as well as a solid color except their bellies, which are white or cream colored.
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DEPARTMENT OF GAME & INLAND FISHERIES:
https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlif...
Thanks for watching "Eastern Hognose Snake Playing Dead".