Head to head
Mexican Hognose Snake vs Eastern Hognose Snake
The Mexican hognose snake and the eastern hognose snake both perform one of the most theatrical defensive displays of any North American reptile, flipping onto their backs and playing dead, yet the two occupy very different parts of the continent and were only recognised as separate species at different points in time.
| Mexican Hognose Snake | Eastern Hognose Snake | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Heterodon kennerlyi | Heterodon platirhinos |
| Range | Southwestern US and northern Mexico | Eastern United States |
| Habitat | Arid grassland and desert scrub | Forest and open habitat |
| Death-feigning display | Yes | Yes |
| Recognised as distinct species | Relatively recently | Long established |
| Primary prey | Toads and other amphibians | Toads and other amphibians |
| Population trend | Stable | Decreasing |
| Diet | Carnivore | Carnivore |
Mexican Hognose Snake vs Eastern Hognose Snake: common questions
How can you tell a Mexican hognose snake from an eastern hognose snake?
The two look and behave very similarly, sharing the same upturned snout and theatrical death-feigning display, so range is the most reliable way to separate them: the Mexican hognose snake occupies arid grassland and desert scrub across the southwestern United States and Mexico, while the eastern hognose snake occupies forest and open habitat across the eastern United States.
Do both hognose snakes play dead the same way?
Yes, both species perform the same sequence of defensive bluffing, hissing, flattening the neck, and making false strikes before finally flipping onto their backs and hanging their mouths open to feign death when a threat does not retreat, a display shared closely across the entire hognose snake group.
Which hognose snake was recognised as a species more recently?
The Mexican hognose snake was only recognised as a species distinct from other similar-looking hognose snakes relatively recently, following genetic and physical studies, while the eastern hognose snake has long been established as its own clearly recognised species.