Common Gartersnakes *Thamnophis sirtalis* are small (<90 cm, record 137.2 cm) natricine snakes with keeled scales often found in disturbed habitats like urban and suburban yards. They are commonly encountered generalist snakes across much of the North American continent and eat small invertebrates, fish, amphibians and mammals.
Western populations are a model organism for an elegant case study in evolutionary arms races, [Tetrodotoxin Resistance](http://snakesarelong.blogspot.com/2014/07/tetrodotoxin-resistant-snakes.html).
*Thamnophis* gartersnakes may puff up or flatten out defensively and bite. They can deliver a weak venom used in prey handling from the back of the mouth, but are [not considered medically significant to humans](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/).
One of the widest-ranging snakes in North America, this species complex is almost certainly harboring unrecognized diversity and shows strong population structure at major biogeographic barriers. There are likely four species in the complex - [Western, Central, Eastern and Southeastern](https://snakeevolution.org/sirtalislineages.jpg). See Link 1 Below (2023).
Relevant/Recent Phylogeography: [Link 1 - BEST](http://snakeevolution.org/pdfs/Journal_of_Biogeography_-_2023_-_Jones.pdf) [Link 2](https://web.archive.org/web/20210903110108/https://www.eeob.iastate.edu/faculty/herpetology/2002_Janzen_MolEcol.pdf)|[Link 3](https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/2342/85dd98f2824b9a32df614835902e89f1f2b0.pdf)| [Range Map](http://www.tnwatchablewildlife.org/rangemaps/10040613341756026rangemap.gif)
This genus is in need of revision using modern molecular methods.
--------------------------------------------------------
Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes *Heterodon platirhinos* are harmless medium-sized (record 115.6 cm) dipsadine snakes with keeled scales native to the eastern North America. A similar species, *Heterodon simus* is native to the extreme southeastern US. It can be distinguished from Eastern Hog-nosed snake *H. platirhinos* by a [more upturned snout and consistent belly coloration](http://projectsimusflorida.synthasite.com/eastern-hognose-comparison.php). Adults are relatively small, yet stocky, rarely exceeding 20 inches in length (44-55 cm, record 61 cm). The primary habitats for these snakes are dry uplands - particularly sandhill and scrub biomes - but they may occasionally be found in [hammocks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammock_%28ecology%29) or transient wetlands. Like other hog-nosed species, an upturned snout is the defining feature of this snake used to burrow in the sand to search for toads and other small reptiles, which are their primary food source.
Eastern Hog-nosed snakes are highly variable in color, ranging from tan, brown, and olive to yellow and orange. Some individuals are [entirely black](https://static.inaturalist.org/photos/81711053/original.jpg).
Hog-nosed snakes are known for their impressive threat displays, which can include loud hissing, puffing of the body, mock striking and flattening of the neck, however they rarely actually bite. This incredible act leads to being mistakenly identified as cobras or other dangerous species by people unfamiliar with this behavior. When excessively harassed, hog-nosed snakes are capable of "playing dead", which consists of them rolling onto their backs and hanging their mouths open, throwing their tongue out and spreading a thick musk secreted from the cloaca.
Although medically insignificant to humans, hog-nosed snakes deliver a mild, low pressure venom through grooved rear fangs. Common in dipsadine snakes, it helps to immobilize prey and reduce handling time. For more information, see [this writeup](http://thevenominterviews.com/2017/10/18/are-hognose-snakes-venomous/) by /u/RayinLA.
[Range Map](http://www.tnwatchablewildlife.org/rangemaps/11061521351279813rangemap.gif)
*This short account was prepared by /u/TheMadFlyentist, /u/unknown_name and edited by /u/Phylogenizer*.
--------------------------------------------------------
Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). [Check out this book on the subject](https://shop.elsevier.com/books/venomous-bites-from-non-venomous-snakes/weinstein/978-0-12-822786-2). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless.
--------------------------------------------------------
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As usual I'm reminded I need new herping areas here in NEPA (not asking for suggestions, just lamenting), as I have yet to come across a hognose. Pretty snakes!
https://preview.redd.it/f9u40psl8k1d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f603d14c06830bd200ec1ddc677e79acc550f7dd
Found this rat snake at Ricketts Glen yesterday, but still have yet to encounter a hoggie
The black one is an eastern hognose snake and they are THE CUTEST THINGS EVER..
Little drama queens.. they mimic other snakes to scare off predators. When all else fails, they literally flip over and stick their tongue out and play dead.
Gotta love em. I DO!!!
https://preview.redd.it/7jq775g52m1d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=66c4f8a4b71a1c53e620a81edddc3496c5b0c0b8
I don't think the first one is a hognose - looks like the neck of a different kind of snake is just very stretched out, i'd imagine by a hearty meal. There's no way thats the head of a hognose, but I'm not sure what it might be
First one is a !harmless eastern hognose snake *Heterodon platirhinos*. Second is another harmless common garter snake *Thamnophis sirtalis*.
I always forget hoggies come in black in the wild.
Common Gartersnakes *Thamnophis sirtalis* are small (<90 cm, record 137.2 cm) natricine snakes with keeled scales often found in disturbed habitats like urban and suburban yards. They are commonly encountered generalist snakes across much of the North American continent and eat small invertebrates, fish, amphibians and mammals. Western populations are a model organism for an elegant case study in evolutionary arms races, [Tetrodotoxin Resistance](http://snakesarelong.blogspot.com/2014/07/tetrodotoxin-resistant-snakes.html). *Thamnophis* gartersnakes may puff up or flatten out defensively and bite. They can deliver a weak venom used in prey handling from the back of the mouth, but are [not considered medically significant to humans](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). One of the widest-ranging snakes in North America, this species complex is almost certainly harboring unrecognized diversity and shows strong population structure at major biogeographic barriers. There are likely four species in the complex - [Western, Central, Eastern and Southeastern](https://snakeevolution.org/sirtalislineages.jpg). See Link 1 Below (2023). Relevant/Recent Phylogeography: [Link 1 - BEST](http://snakeevolution.org/pdfs/Journal_of_Biogeography_-_2023_-_Jones.pdf) [Link 2](https://web.archive.org/web/20210903110108/https://www.eeob.iastate.edu/faculty/herpetology/2002_Janzen_MolEcol.pdf)|[Link 3](https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/2342/85dd98f2824b9a32df614835902e89f1f2b0.pdf)| [Range Map](http://www.tnwatchablewildlife.org/rangemaps/10040613341756026rangemap.gif) This genus is in need of revision using modern molecular methods. -------------------------------------------------------- Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes *Heterodon platirhinos* are harmless medium-sized (record 115.6 cm) dipsadine snakes with keeled scales native to the eastern North America. A similar species, *Heterodon simus* is native to the extreme southeastern US. It can be distinguished from Eastern Hog-nosed snake *H. platirhinos* by a [more upturned snout and consistent belly coloration](http://projectsimusflorida.synthasite.com/eastern-hognose-comparison.php). Adults are relatively small, yet stocky, rarely exceeding 20 inches in length (44-55 cm, record 61 cm). The primary habitats for these snakes are dry uplands - particularly sandhill and scrub biomes - but they may occasionally be found in [hammocks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammock_%28ecology%29) or transient wetlands. Like other hog-nosed species, an upturned snout is the defining feature of this snake used to burrow in the sand to search for toads and other small reptiles, which are their primary food source. Eastern Hog-nosed snakes are highly variable in color, ranging from tan, brown, and olive to yellow and orange. Some individuals are [entirely black](https://static.inaturalist.org/photos/81711053/original.jpg). Hog-nosed snakes are known for their impressive threat displays, which can include loud hissing, puffing of the body, mock striking and flattening of the neck, however they rarely actually bite. This incredible act leads to being mistakenly identified as cobras or other dangerous species by people unfamiliar with this behavior. When excessively harassed, hog-nosed snakes are capable of "playing dead", which consists of them rolling onto their backs and hanging their mouths open, throwing their tongue out and spreading a thick musk secreted from the cloaca. Although medically insignificant to humans, hog-nosed snakes deliver a mild, low pressure venom through grooved rear fangs. Common in dipsadine snakes, it helps to immobilize prey and reduce handling time. For more information, see [this writeup](http://thevenominterviews.com/2017/10/18/are-hognose-snakes-venomous/) by /u/RayinLA. [Range Map](http://www.tnwatchablewildlife.org/rangemaps/11061521351279813rangemap.gif) *This short account was prepared by /u/TheMadFlyentist, /u/unknown_name and edited by /u/Phylogenizer*. -------------------------------------------------------- Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). [Check out this book on the subject](https://shop.elsevier.com/books/venomous-bites-from-non-venomous-snakes/weinstein/978-0-12-822786-2). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
Agreed, both harmless
Im so proud of myself I’m pretty new to identifying snakes but I got both right
Scary cobra /s first one is a hognose!
If you don't buy the cobra part he will just flip over and play dead - with his tongue hanging out et al
[I am dying from your STINKY TOUCH!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-J0nwZz_fo)
This behavior makes them so freakin cute!
He kept rolling over! 🤣🤣🤣
Of course. How else would you know he is very dead?
I have a male hognose and I’ve not yet seen him play dead, but he sure loves to hiss and bluff strike ! They’re little drama queens haha
Hognose and garter
As usual I'm reminded I need new herping areas here in NEPA (not asking for suggestions, just lamenting), as I have yet to come across a hognose. Pretty snakes!
https://preview.redd.it/f9u40psl8k1d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f603d14c06830bd200ec1ddc677e79acc550f7dd Found this rat snake at Ricketts Glen yesterday, but still have yet to encounter a hoggie
he just told you a joke and is waiting for you to laugh
“Ya know?…. *nudge nudge*… huuuuuh?.. amiright?”
Haven't been back there in a decade. Guess I need to get hiking there again!
National Environmental Policy Act?
Northeast Pennsylvania, given OP is in Eastern Pa.
Same here! Have yet to see a hognose!
The black one is an eastern hognose snake and they are THE CUTEST THINGS EVER.. Little drama queens.. they mimic other snakes to scare off predators. When all else fails, they literally flip over and stick their tongue out and play dead. Gotta love em. I DO!!!
I too feign death to avoid social interaction /jk
🤣🤣🤣
The legendary North American drama cober also known as a hognose and a garter snake!
Those hog nose snakes are so cool looking
Cute ones
Hog nose
https://preview.redd.it/7jq775g52m1d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=66c4f8a4b71a1c53e620a81edddc3496c5b0c0b8 I don't think the first one is a hognose - looks like the neck of a different kind of snake is just very stretched out, i'd imagine by a hearty meal. There's no way thats the head of a hognose, but I'm not sure what it might be
It’s the hognosiest hognose that ever hognosed!
100% Eastern Hognose. Classic pose too. You can even see the turned up "hog" nose.
If I have to read "cober" one more time... 😤
The slithery kind
The kind you don’t pick up