Western Hognose Snake (Phoenix Zoo - Arizona Trail)

Western Hognose Snake

Heterodon nasicus

Summary ⁵

Western Hognose snakes are relatively small, stout-bodied snakes found throughout the Great Plains states of the U.S. from Canada to Mexico. Their color and pattern is highly variable from subspecies to subspecies, although most specimens appear much like the infamous rattlesnake to the untrained eye. This optical bluff, used in conjunction with a wide array of other clever defense tactics, makes these snakes quite unique among North American serpents.

Description ⁶

H. nasicus can reach a maximum size of about 90 cm, averaging between 38 to 64 cm. The dorsal pattern consists of sandy ground colored scales contrasted by more than 35 brown dorsal blotches from the snout to the vent in males and more than 40 in females. The flanks are speckled with brown scales and large spots. Like in other members of its genus, a prominent brown band crosses the eye to the forehead. The ventral scales are coal-black colored with white, yellow or pale orange edges. (Tennan, 2003).

Range description ⁷

This species ranges from southern Canada, through the United States to northern Mexico. Its range extends from southern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, and southern Manitoba southward through primarily the Great Plains region to southeastern Arizona and central Mexico (San Luis Potosi), discontinuously east to Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, and eastern Texas, and disjunctly west to central Wyoming; reported occurrence in northwestern Colorado need verification (Conant and Collins 1991, Walley and Eckerman 1999, Stebbins 2003). The single record for Arkansas is based on a misidentified specimen (Irwin 2001). Its elevational range is from near sea level to around 2,440 m asl (8,000 feet) (Stebbins 2003).

Iucn red list assessment ⁸

Red List Category

Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version

3.1

Year Assessed

2007

Assessor/s

Hammerson, G.A.

Reviewer/s

Cox, N., Chanson, J.S. & Stuart, S.N. (Global Reptile Assessment Coordinating Team)

Contributor/s

Justification

Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

Fuentes y créditos

(c) francis crawley, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/53091040@N06/5373447917
(c) 2011 Todd Pierson, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-NC), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=390189&one=T
(c) 2011 Todd Pierson, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-NC), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=390190&one=T
Stolz, Gary M., sin restricciones conocidas de derechos (dominio publico), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/21519.jpg
(c) Wikipedia, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterodon_nasicus
(c) Mohammadi, Shabnam, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/18130433
(c) International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/28148228
(c) International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/28148227