Title
Heterodon platirhinos (Eastern Hog-nosed Snake). Behavior and habitat
Author(s)
Rainwater, Thomas R.; Boylan, Shane; Pfeifer, Annde; Platt, Steven G.
Published
2019
Publisher
Herpetological Review
Abstract
Heterodon platirhinos occurs in a variety of habitats in eastern North America but is most abundant in dry areas with well-drained, sandy soils, open vegetative cover, and proximity to water (or abundance of amphibian prey) (Platt 1969. Univ. Kansas Publ. Mus. Nat. Hist. 18:253–420). On the Atlantic coast of the United States, barrier beach and dune ecosystems often contain high densities of H. platirhinos because of abundant prey and expanded niche opportunity as a result of reduced snake fauna (Stewart and Rossi 1981. Am. Midl. Nat. 106:282–292; Scott 1985. Brimleyana 12:51–55; Buchanan et al. 2017. J. Wildl. Manage. 81:509–520). Although predominantly a terrestrial snake, H. platirhinos will occasionally swim (Platt, op. cit.); however, few records exist of this species swimming or otherwise utilizing saline aquatic habitats. Here, we provide two records of H. platirhinos using saline aquatic habitats in coastal South Carolina, USA.
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PUB26889