Heterodon platirhinos (non-venomous)

Eastern hognose snakes are the larger of the two species of hognose snakes found in Florida. The other species is the Southern Hognose Snake.  Eastern hognoses are heavy bodied snakes and can reach nearly four feet in length.  Highly variable in pattern, these snakes can have shades of yellow, gray, brown, green or black with rectangular patterns.  Some however, are completely black.  Hognose snakes are famous for playing dead when threatened and will first spread their neck wide like a cobra and hiss, only to musk, roll onto their back and open their mouth as they “die”. Eastern hognose snakes can be found throughout all of Florida preferring areas with sandy soils and abundant prey like fields, farmlands and coastal areas.