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•Domain: Eukaryota: eukaryotic
•Kingdom: Animalia: multicellular
•Phylum: Chordata: vertebrates
•Class: Reptilia: reptiles
•Order: Squamata: snakes, lizards, and worm lizards
•Family: Colubridae: family of snakes
•Genus: Heterodon
•Epithet: nasicus
•Species: Heterodon nasicus
More commonly known as Western Hognose Snake
Western Hognose Snakes are small spotted snakes found on plains in the North Western area. (Kerns) They have a spotted appearance to blend in with the dirt. (Kerns)
Heterodon nasicus are not very territorial meaning they do not have many conflicts with other species in the area. (Kerns)
These snakes prey on toads found in the same area. (Kerns) They are venomous and adapted to have large adrenal glands to negate the toxins of toads. (Kerns)
H. nasicus are polygamous meaning the females breed with many males to create offspring. (Kerns) The mating season for these snakes occur between the months of June and August. (Kerns) Females lay from 4 to 23 eggs between these months. (Kerns) Once the eggs have been fertilized they are buried in the sand and hatch in 52 to 64 days. (Kerns)
They live around 14 years. (Kerns)
Experiment
Experiment
Created by John B. Iverson. Scientists wanted to discover the relationship between snake size and its reproductive habits. (Iverson) The scientists also took into account the environmental factors. (Iverson)
They started measuring snakes found in the plains area before mating season. The scientists periodically measured the same snakes to track their growth. Once they noticed the female snakes were pregnant, they noted their length. (Iverson)
Results
Results
When the researchers were conducting their search, they discovered that the smallest snake to reproduce was 37.8 cm, a female in Nebraska. (Iverson)
The largest non-reproductive females were 37.0, 36.4 and 33.6. (Iverson)
Conclusion
Conclusion
The longer the length of the snake, the more likely the snake will mate and reproduce. (Iverson)
The average length of reproductive female snakes is 37-38 centimeters.(Iverson)
These findings are important because they can better help people understand the habits of the Heterodon nasicus because we learn more about how and when they reproduce.
Iverson, J. (16 December 2019) Female reproduction in western hognose snakes (Heterodon nasicus) in the Nebraska sandhills, USA. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 14(3):627-640.
Kerns, M. (2003) Heterodon nasicus. [internet] University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Animal Diversity Web. n.d. Available from: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Heterodon_nasicus/
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