Leucistic Hognose

Leucistic Hognose

The Leucistic Hognose snake is a stunning reptile that is one of the most popular pets in the world. They are also a fascinating subject for researchers.

This snake expresses a double recessive gene that results in the complete absence of pigment on their body. This makes them completely white, with no markings or coloration on their head or tail.

Western Hognoses (Heterodon nasicus) are native to central North America and can be found in Canada, the US, and Mexico. They are a member of the colubrid family, and they have enlarged venom glands behind their maxillae.

Their scoop nose allows them to dig for their prey, toads. They use this spadelike snout to dig and excavate their prey, using special rear fangs to puncture the toad, releasing trapped air and deflating it.

When threatened, hognose snakes puff up, flatten their necks like pancakes, raise their heads, and hiss in an attempt to scare off their attacker. They usually don’t bite, but they can strike if provoked and then feign death by opening their mouths, rolling over on their back, and writhing around.

They are venomous and if they bite, their venom will cause local swelling and skin rashes for more sensitive people. It is believed that their venom is more toxic to amphibians than humans, but they are still mildly venomous to human beings.

There have been very few reports of envenomation by hognose snakes. The chief symptoms are edema, erythema, blister formation, and ecchymoses. The time of resolution of these symptoms may vary from a few days to months depending on the severity of the bite.