Eastern hognose snake
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BallEastern Pythonhognose (Python regius)snake
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: |
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The balleastern pythonhog-nosed snake[4] (PythonHeterodon regiusplatirhinos), also called the royal python, is a pythonspecies speciesof nativemildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Colubridae. The venom is specifically adapted to Westamphibian prey and Centralis Africa,harmless whereto ithumans. livesHowever, insome grasslands,people shrublandsmay have an allergic reaction, and openexperience forests.local Thisswelling nonvenomousand constrictorother symptoms. The species is the smallest of the African pythons, growing to a maximum length of 182 cm (72 in).[2] The name "ball python" refers to its tendency to curl into a ball when stressed or frightened.[3]
The ball python is black, or albino and dark brown with light brown blotches on the back and sides. Its white or cream belly is scattered with black markings. It is a stocky snake with a relatively small head and smooth scales.[3] It reaches a maximum adult length of 182 cm (6 ft 0 in). Males typically measure eight to ten subcaudal scales, and females typically measure two to four subcaudal scales.[7] Females reach an average snout-to-vent length of 116.2 cm (45+3⁄4 in), a 44.3 mm (1+3⁄4 in) long jaw, an 8.7 cm (3+7⁄16 in) long tail and a maximum weight of 1.635 kg (3 lb 9.7 oz). Males are smaller with an average snout-to-vent length of 111.3 cm (43+13⁄16 in), a 43.6 mm (1+23⁄32 in) long jaw, an 8.6 cm (3+3⁄8 in) long tail and a maximum weight of 1.561 kg (3 lb 7.1 oz).[8] Both sexes have pelvic spurs on both sides of the vent. During copulation, males use these spurs for gripping females.[9] Males tend to have larger spurs, and sex is best determined by manual eversion of the male hemipenes or inserting a probe into the cloacaendemic to checkNorth the presence of an inverted hemipenis.America.[10]
Taxonomy
Boa regia was the scientific name proposed by George Shaw in 1802 for a pale variegated python from an indistinct place in Africa.[4]5] TheThere are no genericsubspecies name Python was proposed by François Marie Daudin in 1803 for non-venomous flecked snakes.[5] Between 1830 and 1849, several generic names were proposed for the same zoological specimen described by Shaw, including Enygrus by Johann Georg Wagler, Cenchris and Hertulia by John Edward Gray. Gray also described four specimens that wereare collectedrecognized inas Gambiabeing and were preserved in spirits and fluid.valid.[6]
Distribution and habitat
The ball python is native to west Sub Saharan Africa from Senegal, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, and Nigeria through Cameroon, Chad, and the Central African Republic to Sudan and Uganda.[1] It prefers grasslands, savannas, and sparsely wooded areas.[3]
Behaviour and ecology
Ball pythons are typically nocturnal or crepuscular, meaning they are active during dusk, dawn, and/or nighttime.[11]4] This species isprefers knownhabitats with sandy soils and a combination of grass fields and forest edges.[6] They come in many different colorations and have the identifiable upturned "snout".[7] They can be found in captivity but are a relatively difficult species to keep due to a specialized diet of toads. As with other Heterodon species, they have a distinctive threat reaction of first bluffing by striking with a closed mouth and then pretending to die if this fails to deter the threat.
Geographic range
H. platirhinos has a wide geographical range from the central United States to the east coast. In the northern parts of the range, it can be found in southern Ontario, southern New Hampshire, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts.[8] Going west the snake can be found in Texas and Kansas. The southern part of the range then goes down into southern Florida.[9] Populations start to dwindle as the species reaches the northern range.[10]
Habitat
Studies have shown that H. platirhinos prefers upland sandy pine-forests, old-fields and forest edges.[11] Like most of the genus Heterodon, the Eastern Hognose Snake prefers dry conditions with loose soil for itsburrowing defensepurposes.[12] strategyThese thatloose involvessoils coilingare intopreferable habitat components for nesting and egg laying.[13] Barrier beach and dune ecosystems appear to contain some of the highest densities of Heterodon platirhinos because of abundant prey (primarily anurans from the genera Anaxyrus).[14] At the northern end of their range, they have been found to prefer developed lands as their desired habitat followed by mixed forests dominated by hemlock trees.[15] Based on a tightstudy ballin whenCanada, threatened,the average home range size is about 40 hectares.[11] Their habitats include southeastern and midwestern woodlands, tall-grassland prairies, and grassy or cultivated fields along woodland edges.[16][7] Their habitat range tends to increase with itsgrass and leaf litter.[17]
Description and etymology
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The generic name Heterodon is derived from the middle.Greek words heteros meaning "different" and odon meaning "tooth". The specific name platirhinos is derived from the Greek words platys meaning "broad or flat" and rhinos meaning "snout".[18] This defensespecies behaviorof snake is typicallydescribed employedas inbeing lieuquite stout-bodied.[19] The color pattern of biting,this whichsnake makesis extremely variable. It can be red, green, orange, brown, gray to black, or any combination thereof depending on locality. Dorsally, it can be blotched, checkered, or patternless. The belly tends to be a solid gray, yellow, or cream-colored. In this species easy for humans to handle and has contributed to their popularity as a pet.[3]
In the wild, ball pythons favor mammal burrows and other underground hiding places, where they also aestivate. Males tend to display more semi-arboreal behaviors, whilst females tend towards terrestrial behaviors.[12]
Diet
The dietunderside of the balltail pythonis lighter than the belly.[20] The most distinguishing feature is the upturned snout, used for digging in thesandy wildsoils.[7] consistsThe mostlyaverage ofadult smallH. mammalsplatirhinos andmeasures birds. Young ball pythons of less than 7071 cm (28 in) preyin foremosttotal onlength small(including birds.tail), Ballwith pythonsfemales longerbeing larger than 100males. The maximum recorded total length is 116 cm (3946 in).[21]
Behavior
The Eastern hognose is a diurnal species.[7] It is typically most active during April–September after coming out of hibernation. Because there is such a wide range the snake is found there is variation in the population's climates which can cause the period of activity to change. In northern climates, hibernation comes earlier and begins late September–October whereas in southern climates, the snake might not retreat until November. There have been some recorded to still be active between December–February in Florida and along the Gulf Coast.[6] If the temperature reaches or drops below 19 degrees Celsius, hibernation will begin for the snake. This hibernation period takes place alone in burrows either dug by the snake or already made mammal burrows. To burrow, a snake forces its head into the soil then moves its head back and forth. For hibernation, these burrows will reach depths of 25 centimeters or more.[7]
Defensive behavior
When the eastern hognose snake is threatened, the neck is flattened and the head is raised off the ground, like a cobra. It also hisses and will strike with its mouth closed, but it does not attempt to bite— a behavior known as "bluffing".[22] The result can be likened to a high speed head-butt. If this threat display does not work to deter a would-be predator, an eastern hognose snake will often roll onto its back and play dead, going so far as to emit a foul musk from its cloaca and let its tongue hang out of its mouth.[20][23][24] One individual was observed playing dead for 45 minutes before reanimating and moving away.[25] This death-feigning behavior was also observed often in water habitats.[26]
Feeding
The eastern hognose snake feeds extensively on amphibians, and has a particular fondness for toads. This snake has resistance to the toxins toads secrete. This immunity is thought to come from enlarged adrenal glands which secrete large amounts of hormones to counteract the toads' powerful skin poisons. At the rear of each upper jaw, it has enlarged teeth, which are neither hollow nor grooved, with which it punctures and deflates toads to be able to swallow them whole.[21][23][27] It will also consume other amphibians, such as frogs and salamanders. Like all other snakes, they eat their prey foremostwhole.[22] Because it is a toad feeding specialist, its venom is adapted to be effective against toads and has not been found to be harmful to humans.[28]
Reproduction
Eastern hognose snakes mate in early April and May. Both the male and female snakes are known to have multiple mates during this season. The act of copulation can last for up to 3 days.[29] Occasionally, a second breeding period occurs around September and October. Rather than fertilizing a new egg clutch at this time, females will instead store sperm until the spring months for use.[7] Males will follow the pheromone trails left behind by females on the move.[7][6] Some females have been observed traveling past viable nesting conditions in order to reach communal nesting sites.[30] Eggs might be laid in small mammals.soil Malesdepressions, preymammal burrows, or under rocks depending on the region.[29] The female may even dig the burrow herself, often choosing open and grassy areas with few herbs or shrubs because these areas get more frequentlysunlight, onbecause birds,the andwarm femalestemperatures moreit frequentlyprovides onare mammals.[12]needed Rodentsfor makethe upproper a large percentagedevelopment of the diet;eggs.[31] GambianThe pouchedfemales, ratswhich lay 8–40 eggs (average about 25) in June or early July, do not take care of the eggs or young. The eggs, which measure about 33 mm × 23 mm (1+1⁄3 in × 1 in), hatch after about 60 days, from late July to September. The hatchlings are about 16.5–21 cm (6.5–8.3 in) long.black[24] ratsThey have an average nest temperature of 23–26 °C (73–79 °F) incubating for an average of 49–63 days.[13], rufous-nosedSome rats,parental shaggycare rats,is shown by the female such as nest and young guarding through hissing and chasing.striped[32] grassTypically, micemales reach maturity at about 40 cm (16 in) SVL which can take up to 18-24 months. Females, however, reach maturity at about 45 cm (18 in) SVL, taking up to 21 months.[7][6]
Venom
Heterodon platirhinos is a mildly venomous species where the effects are amongnot deadly to humans.[16] Heterodon means "different tooth", which refers to the speciesenlarged consumed.teeth at the rear of the upper jaw. These teeth inject a mild amphibian-specific venom into prey. The fangs receive the venom from the snake's Duvernoy's gland.[13]33]
Bitten humans who are allergic to the saliva have been known to experience local swelling, burning, discoloration, and bleeding from the wounds, but no human deaths have been documented.[6]
ThreatsPredators
There are many predators of the Eastern hognose snake. These include: tarantulas, other snakes, crows, red-tailed hawks, barred owls, raccoons, Virginia opossums, foxes, and humans.[7][6]
Human impact
Humans cause pollution and pesticide poisoning, habitat destruction, vehicular deaths, and intentionally hunt the snake.[7][6] Further studies have shown that other effects humans have on the mortality of H. platirhinos come from roads. Laura E. Robson and Gabriel Blouin-Demers conducted a study and found that the Eastern hognose snake avoids crossing paved roads, increasing the isolation of populations. The snakes will cross unpaved roads but face higher mortality from vehicle collisions.[34]
Captivity
The Ballhognose pythonsnake is listedan intermediate level reptile to keep and lives between 10-15 years in captivity. Typically, mice and rats are used to feed most snakes in captivity. With hognose being a toad specialist species, it can be tricky to get them to eat frozen thawed mice. Scenting the food with toad or lizard is a trick used amongst hobbyists to entice the snake. Being a solitary species, snakes are kept individually unless it is for intentional breeding. Due to their burrowing nature, hognose snakes require suitable substrate depth to retain this natural instinct.[35]
Conservation status
This species, H. platirhinos, is classified as NearLeast ThreatenedConcern (LC) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; (Year assessed: 2007).[36] However, it experiencesis a high levelspecies of exploitationincreasing conservation concern, especially in the northeastern part of its range.[37][38][39][40] Of the five states in the northeast U.S. where the eastern hognose snake occurs, it currently has "listed" conservation status in four (Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, and theRhode populationIsland).[41] isNoted declines are believed to be inthe decline in mostresult of Westdirect Africa.[1]anthropogenic Thepressures ball python is primarily threatened by poaching for the international exotic pet trade. It is also hunted for its skin, meat and use in traditional medicine. Other threats includeincluding habitat loss asand afragmentation, resultroad ofmortality, intensifiedenvironmental agriculturedegradation, and pesticideintentional use.killing.[1] Rural hunters in Togo collect gravid females and egg clutches, which they sell to snake ranches. In 2019 alone, 58 interviewed hunters had collected 3,000 live ball pythons and 5,000 eggs.[14]
In captivity
Ball pythons are the most popular pet snake and the second most popular pet reptile after the bearded dragon.[15] According to the IUCN Red List, while captive bred animals are widely available in the pet trade, capture of wild specimens for sale continues to cause significant damage to wild populations.[1] Wild-caught specimens have greater difficulty adapting to a captive environment, which can result in refusal to feed, and they generally carry internal or external parasites.[citation needed6] This species can do quite well in captivity, regularly living for 15-30 years with good care.[16] The oldest recorded ball python in captivity is 62 years, 59 of those at the Saint Louis Zoo.[17]
Breeding
Captive ball pythons are often bred for specific patterns that do not occur in the wild, called "morphs."[18] Breeders are continuously creating new designer morphs, and over 7,500 different morphs currently exist.[19][20]42] MostSome morphsof this habitat fragmentation may be due to eastern hognose snakes having a reluctance to cross paved roads.[43] In the Eastern United States, pitch pine-scrub oak barrens are consideredan solelyimperiled cosmeticdisturbance-dependent withcommunity nothat harmhas ordeclined benefitsubstantially due to thewildfires individualthat animal.have However,threatened vertebrates such as the "spider"eastern morphhognose gene has been linked to neurological disease, specifically related to the snake's sense of balance.snake.[21] Due to the ethical concerns associated with intentionally breeding a color pattern linked to genetic disease, the International Herpetological Society banned the sale of spider morphs at their events beginning in 2018.[22]44]