Heterodon nasicus

Western hooked nose snake ( Heterodon nasicus )

The western hook-nosed snake ( Heterodon nasicus ) occurs in North America and Mexico. It belongs to the family of snakes. The two former subspecies H. n kennerlyi and H. n gloydi are now run as an independent species Heterodon gloydi and Heterodon kennerlyi. The hook -nosed Snakes reach a body length of 45-60 cm, a maximum of 90 cm as a rule. The females are larger and considerably heavier. You reach an age of 15 and 18 years. Their mating season is from March to May

It belongs to the ungleichzähnigen snakes ( vipers deceit ). Accordingly, it has opistoglyphe (back standing ) fangs. The poison is not fatal very weak and for people with allergies, it is not to be underestimated anyway. The toxic effect is like that of a bee or wasp sting. With danger Heterodon nasicus towards the neck and spreads in the style of a cobra ( as seen on the picture ), while hissing and Fauchlaute are heard. If this does not work, she turns on her back and lets her about anal scutum escape a fishy smelling, sticky, milky white liquid and by excessive tightening of the neck muscles is bleeding the hook nose snake out of his mouth. Thus it prevents them from being eaten by predators.

In nature, Heterodon nasicus feeds mainly on toads, frogs and small mammals.