Southern Hognose Snake Their Mouths

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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service February 2019 Conserving South Carolina’s At-Risk Species: www.fws.gov/charleston www.fws.gov/southeast/endangered-species-act/at-risk-species Species facing threats to their survival

Southern hognose snake their mouths. Despite these threat dis- logs. Hatching occurs from September (Heterodon simus) plays, they rarely bite. Southern hognose through October. Adults and neonates snakes are active strictly by day and are will forage extensively from October often seen on warm mornings in the through November as the snakes prepare spring and fall. They are highly fossorial for winter months underground. (living underground) and are most often encountered crossing roads that pass Range through sandy habitats. Southern hognose snakes were historically found in the Coastal Plain of the eastern Hognose snakes feed almost exclusively United States from southern North Caro- on toads, although they will occasionally lina to southern Mississippi and in most Southern hognose snake/Savannah River Ecol- consume other prey. They are equipped parts of Florida. Now, they are only ogy Lab with two features for subduing their prey; found in scattered locations in South Car- enlarged teeth in the back of their mouths olina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Flori- Description called rear fangs and Duvernoy’s glands, da. Although both species of hognose Southern hognose snakes are fairly small, specialized glands that secret toxic saliva. snake in the Southeast prefer sandy areas, heavy-bodied snakes that reach about 24 southern hognose snakes are found almost inches in length. Female southern hog- During winter months, these snakes are exclusively in sandhill, pine flatwood, and nose snakes are larger than males and the rarely seen above ground. They emerge coastal dune habitats, and in the sand young resemble miniature adults. South- from underground in early spring. Mating ridges of central Florida. Because of their ern hognose snakes are gray, tan, or red- occurs as late as June. From late July fossorial habits, hognose snakes sometimes dish in color with a series of dark brown through August, females will lay any- persist in suburban or agricultural areas blotches down the center of the back and where from 6 - 14 eggs in sandy soil or in with sandy soils. alternating smaller blotches along the sides. Unlike the eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos), they are never solid black. In southern hognose snakes, the underside of the tail is the same color as the belly. In eastern hognose snakes, the underside of the tail is lighter than the belly. Hognose snakes are easily distin- guished from most snakes in the southeast region by their pointed, upturned snouts. Southern hognose snakes have more sharply-upturned snouts than eastern hognose snakes.

Southern hognose snakes often put on threat displays when confronted by preda- tors. Those threat displays include neck spreading and hissing, earning them other commonly used names such as puff adders or spreading adders. Eventually, they play Southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus); Photo credit: Kevin Enge, Florida Fish and Wildlife dead, rolling on their backs and opening Conservation Commission; Flicker—Creative Commons. informs all Endangered Species Act (ESA) decisions. It begins with a compilation of the best available information on the species (taxonomy, life history, and habitat) and its ecological needs, based on how environmental factors are understood to act on the species and its habitat. Next, the SSA describes the current condition of the species’ habitat and demographics, and the probable explanations for past and on- going changes in abundance and distribu- tion within the species’ ecological settings. Lastly, the SSA forecasts the species’ re- sponse to probable future scenarios of environmental conditions and conservation efforts. Overall, the assessment utilizes the conservation biology principles of re- siliency, redundancy, and representation (collectively known as the “3Rs”) as a lens to evaluate the current and future condition of the species. An SSA Report, devel- Southern hognose (Heterodon simus) range map, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, July 2018. oped by the Service and peer-reviewed, Habitat will then be utilized to inform any listing Southern hognose snakes can be found in and hibernation sites. Determine the root decision on the species. The Service antic- the same habitat types that support gopher cause of the decline of southern hognose ipates finalizing an SSA Report on the tortoise populations. Being both fossorial snakes (e.g.—effects of fire ants on popu- southern hognose snake in 2019. and cryptic, they spend a good portion of lations). Continue to inventory and moni- their lives using underground shelters such tor known populations. Continued out- References as stump holes, rodent burrows, root reach and education on the species is also NatureServe. 2018. NatureServe Explor- channels or gopher tortoise burrows. The encouraged. er: An online encyclopedia of life [web longleaf pine habitat provides open cano- application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, pies with abundant stump holes, some cre- Status Arlington, Virginia. Available http:// ated when pine trees are blown over by Southern hognose snakes have declined in explorer.natureserve.org. storms or killed by lightning. recent years and are of conservation con- cern throughout their range. They have Savannah River Ecology Laboratory: Threats not been found in Alabama or Mississippi Southern hognose snake. http:// Loss of longleaf pine habitat, urban since the 1970's and are restricted to scat- srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/hetsim.htm sprawl, habitat fragmentation and conver- tered locations in the states where they sion are the main stressors affecting the still occur. NatureServe’s last review of South Carolina Department of Natural species. Introduced fire ants have also the species was conducted in 2014, yield- Resources—State Wildlife Action Plan: been implicated in the decline of southern ing a Rounded Global Status of G2 2010-2015. hognose snakes, along with impacts from (Imperiled) for the species. The U.S. Fish other non-native species. Additionally, and Wildlife Service was petitioned to list Weinstein, S. A., & Keyler, D. E. (2009). their secretive habits hampers study of the species in July 2012 and published a Local envenoming by the Western hog- their ecology and population dynamics. substantial 90-day finding in September nose snake (Heterodon nasicus): a case 2015 indicating listing may be warranted. report and review of medically significant Management/Protection Needs The Service is currently conducting a Spe- Heterodon bites. Toxicon, 54(3), 354- Protect upland habitat utilized by the species Status Assessment on the southern 360. cies. Maintain open characteristics of hab- hognose snake. itat through use of prescribed fire and en- Contact courage restoration of large tracts of long- Species Status Assessment U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service leaf and wiregrass ecosystem, managed on The Species Status Assessment (SSA) South Carolina Field Office long rotations with large stumps remain- framework, developed by the Service, is 843/727-4707 ing after harvest for underground refugia used to deliver foundational science that [email protected]