HARMLESSLY VENOMOUS. Uses its venom to subdue prey, but is not dangerous to humans because a) they have an ineffective venom delivery mechanism, b) their mouths are too small to gain purchase, and/or c) their venom is not adapted for causing physiological damage to mammals.
The Plains Hog-nosed Snake is characterized by keeled scales, a divided anal scale, a sharply turned-up snout, and its belly and the underside of its tail extensively colored jet black. The body, head, and tail vary from gray to yellow or light brown. There are 23- 50 dark brown blotches down the back and rows of smaller, similarly colored spots alternating on the sides. The jet black areas on the belly and underside of the tail may be edged with yellow. Adult males have fewer blotches on the back and longer tails than females. Females grow larger than males.
Adults normally grow 38.0- 63.5 cm (15-25 inches) in total length. The largest specimen from Kansas is a female (KU 218806) from Morton County with a total length of 91.8 cm (36 inches) collected by Robert L. Ball on 20 May 1991. The maximum length throughout its range is 100.3 cm (39½ inches) (Conant and Collins, 1998).
The Plains Hog-nosed Snake occurs throughout the western three-quarters of Kansas, reaching its peak abundance on the High Plains. Its range extends east to the Flint Hills, with a few isolated records along the western border of the Osage Cuestas.
The southeastern-most populations are likely relictual.
Platt (1969, 1985) extensively studied this snake in central Kansas, and much of the information from Kansas is based on his observations.
Plains Hog-nosed Snakes generally are found in grassland or sand prairie in western Kansas; most records in the eastern part of the state are probably from isolated populations in sandy areas. This snake is active from mid-April to October at optimal air temperatures of 70-95°F. Plains Hog-nosed Snake are diurnal, active primarily in the morning and late afternoon. When not active, this snake burrows beneath sandy loose soil to maintain an optimal body temperature. The home range of Plains Hog-nosed Snake is quite variable, depending on available habitat and food. This animal is not territorial. Population density may be as much as one to three snakes per acre. During winter, this species burrows deep beneath the ground to avoid cold temperatures.
Although the Plains Hog-nosed Snake usually mates during May after emerging from winter inactivity, a few matings occur in the fall. The number of eggs per clutch varies from four to 23 (Platt 1969; Fitch, 1985), with an average of nine; eggs are laid in July in nests a few centimeters below the soil. Females evidently deposit a clutch every other year. Incubation time for the eggs is 50- 60 days. Courtship has not been observed. Taggart (1992) collected a gravid female in Ellis County on 28 June; she laid 16 eggs on 2 July.
This reptile detects its prey by smell, digging a food item from its burrow beneath the soil. Its upturned snout allows the Plains Hog-nosed Snake to dig up and eat toads, reptile eggs, small lizards, and snakes. This snake also consumes rodents and birds when it can capture them.
First reported in Kansas by Hallowell (1857) based on a specimen collected by Fort Riley surgeon William A. Hammond in the vicinity of Fort Riley. Bocourt (1879) mentions (page 605; translated from French) "Heterodon nasicus, which Samuel Garman said is only a variety of Heterodon simus, Linné, is represented at the Museum [National Museum of Natural History (Paris)] by two individuals from the USA: one, from Kansas, donated by the Academy of Philadelphia; the other, of Nebraska, by the Smithsonian Institution." The earliest existing specimen (MCZ 4348) was collected by James A. Allen at Fort Hays, Ellis County, sometime during 1860 (inferred from the dates of specimens cataloged just before and after). The earliest date specimen is MCZ R5201, collected by Samuel W. Garmen at Wallace, Wallace County, on 1 July 1883.
The Plains Hog-nosed Snake was listed as a Kansas SINC species in 1987. Cope (1900) recorded this species from "Fort Riley, Kansas", and Gloyd (1929) reported another specimen from the vicinity of Manhattan, which was subsequently lost.
Burt (1935) reports on a specimen secured as it was crawling along drift about 75 feet above the edge of Lake Lakin in western Kansas on 27 May 1934; another was found on a sandbank in the salt marsh area of south-central Kansas 26 May 1934.
Populations in southeast Kansas have been referred to as H. n. gloydi (Edgren 1952). The two forms could purportedly be differentiated based on dorsal blotch count (excluding the tail) (<32 in males and <37 in females in H. n. gloydi [compared to >35 in males and >40 in females in H. n. nasicus] and H. n. gloydi by having poorly defined (diffuse edged) dorsal blotches, giving specimens a ''faded'' appearance.
The three putative 'gloydi' specimens known from Kansas have a dorsal blotch count of 31 (KU 20321; Greenwood Co.; 1936; male [included in Edgren''s (1952) description (see Platt, 1969)]), 36 (KU 159830; Chautauqua Co.; 1976; female), and 31 (KU 194777; Elk Co.; 1983; male).
H. n. gloydi has been shown repeatedly to not warrant taxonomic recognition; Eckerman (1996), Walley and Eckerman (1999), and Smith (2003).
Hog-nosed Snakes (Heterodon spp.) have an enlarged tooth toward the rear of their upper jaws on each side. The hypothesized function is to aid the ingestion (actually deflation) of toads (their preferred food). When captured, toads fill themselves up with air, making themselves much bigger (and more difficult to swallow). The enlarged teeth are not connected to a venom delivery system.
Hog-nosed (and many other ''harmless'') snakes produce venom, however, they lack the efficient venom delivery systems that Kansas'' pit-vipers (rattlesnakes, copperheads, etc.) possess. Additionally, Heterodon venom is produced in smaller quantities, w/ high prey specificity, and/or low toxicity than pit-viper venom. They are also behaviorally reluctant to bite. Nearly all envenomations result from accidents during the feeding of a pet snake, combined with hypersensitivity to the saliva on the part of the bitten person. In any case, the worst symptoms include localized swelling, slight discoloration/bruising, and the formation of small blisters.
Observably abundant in the western half of the state in areas with loose sandy soils, this species becomes noticeably scarce toward the east.This snake exhibits an interesting defensive behavior. When approached, it generally attempts to escape by crawling clumsily away. When more closely threatened, it may attempt to conceal its head beneath its coils. If this does not dissuade an intruder, the snake spreads a "hood" by flattening its neck and hisses loudly. Occasionally the snake may "strike" at the intruder, but in all instances the strike is short and the mouth is closed. If this fails to frighten the intruder, the Plains Hog-nosed Snake will writhe and contort, disgorge recently eaten food, and roll over on its back and "play dead." The snake may remain "dead" for up to five minutes. If left alone, it rolls over on its belly and crawls away.
Based on a captive specimen, Snider and Bowler (1992) reported a maximum longevity for this species of nineteen years, ten months, and 28 days.
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