THE PLAINS HOGNOSE SNAKE

by Johnathan

INTRODUCTION

The Plains Hognose Snake is a medium sized reptile. It's a threatened species. The Hognose Snake is sometimes called the Puff adder , Hissing adder or Spreading adder. The Hognose Snake lives on the plains in Manitoba, Saskatechwan and Alberta.

APPEARANCE

The Plains Hognose Snake grows to become 61 centimeters. It has a short but thick body. It's usually black with white circle markings down it's back. If the Hognose snake is attacked it will flatten it's head and hiss at the intruder. If this does not scare away the intruder it will play dead. The Hognose snake has an upturned nose. It is harmless but widely feared. The Hognose Snake is a secretive snake.

HABITAT

The Plains Hognose Snake Habitat is in the North American plains. They are found in Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan. The Hognose Snake is a burrower which means that it spends most of its time underground. Their head is wedge shaped so that they can go underground into crevices in rocks or burrows made by animals.

FOOD

The Plains Hognose Snake eats salamanders, toads, frogs, earthworms, insects and spiders.

WHY THREATENED

Some of the population of the Plains Hognose Snake has disappeared because of a lose of habitat and the insecticide that the farmers use destroys the insects that the Hognose Snake eats.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP

To keep the Plains Hognose Snake from disappearing we should set aside a part of the land for plains animals. The Government could pass a law so no one can kill them. We could encourage farmers not to use so much insecticide.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Roots, Clive "Endangered Species" Ontario, Markham Fitzharry and Whiteside, 1982.

Schaller, George. "Snakes". World Book Multimedia Encyclopedia, 1995. CD ROM.

"Snake" The New Book of Popular Science, Grolier Inc.1978. Vol 4.