Defense Behavior and Adaptations for Mimicry

Hognose snakes have long been notable because of their unique form of defense behavior. Eastern Hognose seem to be a bit more adept at the art of self defense. If escape from an intruder is impossible the hognose goes through a series of defensive behaviors-generally in the following order; Stage 1: Puffing up with air, hissing, spreading a cobra-like hood, and mock striking with the mouth closed. The snake will often "hit" the intruder with the back of it's head-instead of forwards. Stage 2: The snake suddenly begins it's death feigning. It's rolss onto it's back, it begins to writhe about, opening the mouth, salivating heavily, lolling the tongue, getting dirt into it's mouth, it will often reguritate the last meal it had, and then deficate as well. Soon the snake will lie perfectly still. Shown at right>the snake will continue this behavior even if lefted off the ground and held. If the snake is righted onto it's belly-it will immediately roll onto it's back, refusing to be righted. Stage 3: After the snake is left alone for approx. 5 minutes-it will peek to see if the intruder is gone or far enought away. It will then right itself and head for cover.

Sub-adult during hood spreading.

Adult Captive Male during hood spreading behavior.

Adult male-puffing with air-flatting the head and hissing.

Adult Male spreading a hood and rearing up slightly.

Yearling feigning death.

The same snake as above continuing to feign death even when lifted off the ground and held.

Adult feigning death.

Sub-adult Female feigning death.

It should be noted that some individual snakes will not go into Stage 2 defense at all. While others need a bit longer to respond and enter Stage 3. The reason why some snakes do not feign death is not known. But one thing is sure-hognose do not intentionally bite humans during defensive behavior. It however, possible to "get in the way" during the writhing stage and get caught on a tooth as the snake is flailing.

Some hognose mimic the markings of venomous snakes, in the same way the milksnakes minic coralsnakes. I've put a few really good examples of this mimicry below

South American Hognose

South American Coral Snake

Western Hognoses ^ and Massasauga Rattlesnakes ^

Just the similarity in these snakes' markings and color is enough to keep most predators away from them.