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Definition of western hognose snake

western hognose snake

Plural:western hognose snakes
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• noun

1

North American A small, stout-bodied, mildly venomous colubrid snake native to North America, characterized by its sharply upturned snout used for burrowing and its elaborate defensive behaviors, including flattening its neck and feigning death.

Example

"When threatened by a predator, the Western hognose snake will often roll onto its back, open its mouth, and play dead in a surprisingly convincing display."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for western hognose snake

Word Nuance & Usage

Frequently mistaken for venomous rattlesnakes due to its similar coloration and dramatic defensive hissing, though its rear-fanged bite is generally harmless to humans.

• Nearby Words

western gorilla
western green mamba
western hemlock
western hognose snake
western massasauga
western patch-nosed snake
western rat snake

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Western hognose snake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/western-hognose-snake
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