The hog-nosed snake is sometimes erroneously called a puff adder, but it is not venomous, so your hero has nothing to fear from it no matter what some people may claim. Hog-nosed snakes get their name from their upturned snout, which they use to help with digging. They are often brown with darker and lighter brown markings, but can also be a variety of other colors.
Some hog-nosed snakes eat only toads, while others eat rodents and lizards. Despite being pretty much harmless, they are sometimes mistaken for copperheads and killed. While the hog-nosed snake is unlikely to bite, when it is threatened it will sometimes raise its head off the ground and spread its neck out like a cobra, while hissing loudly.
If this does not scare a threat away, or if the snake is too scared to make such a display, it will roll onto its back and play dead with its mouth open and its tongue hanging out. On the rare occasions they do bite, their saliva contains a weak toxin that causes relatively mild localized symptoms.
Have you ever encountered a hog-nosed snake?
(c) 2012 Jonathan Garner
What an interesting looking nose! Sounds like a nice, fun harmless snake to have around. :) I've never seen one, to my knowledge.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Aubrey!
DeleteYes, they're a fun snake to have around. :)
Is that the snake that rolls onto its back again if you flip it over when it is playing dead?
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting, Patrick!
DeleteYes, it is. :)
*grins* Funny snake. :D I wish we had some of those.
ReplyDeleteThank you, BushMaid! Everywhere should have such harmless, interesting snakes. :)
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