The Hognose Snake Plays Dead in Dramatic Fashion

Thanatosis is the animalistic art of playing dead . Creatures who use this strategy — such as the hognose snake — tend to be small and slow-moving. After all, against a bigger, faster predator, the typical "fight or flight" response doesn't always work.

Hognose snakes are relatively small, making them easy prey for larger animals (including other snakes) if they don't get creative about their defenses.

Hognose Physiology

Hognose snakes have facial scales that give them an upturned nose. These are used to push aside dirt, sandy soil and leaf litter as the critters search for food.

North American species belong to the snake genus Heterodon . Other so-named "hognose snakes" dwell in Madagascar and South America . But even though all three groups have upturned noses, they're clas