Southern Hognose Snake (Heterodon simus) Records

by Karl R. Studenroth Jr.

3 June, 2006

 

 

  Southern Hognose snakes have declined at an alarming rate over the past 10 - 20 years in the Southeast.  In 25 years I have documented only seven Southern Hognose snakes in the Southeastern U.S.  Two of those snakes were in North Carolina, two were in South Carolina, and three were in northwest Florida.  Locality data for these seven snakes is listed below.

 

1) 27 September, 1985.  Bladen Co., NC.  DOR.  NCSM# 25993.  I deposited this road-killed snake in the North Carolina Museum shortly after I collected it.  Check with the North Carolina Museum for the specific locality data. 

 

2) 20 May, 1986.  1300.  Bladen Co., NC.  AOR.  Hwy. 1328, 4/10 mile west Hwy 53.  Female, 432 mm total length.  Gave to Jeff Beane (NC Museum).

 

3) Mid June, 1989.  Okaloosa Co., FL.  Eglin AFB.  T2N, R25W, S34.  Caught by U.S. Army troops at Camp Rudder, on Eglin AFB.  Snake caught near Camp Rudder.  Given to me 2 July, 1989.  Female, 467 mm total length. 

  Laid 12 eggs 11 August, 1989 (eggs 22 – 26 mm long).  Nine of 12 eggs successfully hatched.  Noticed 1^st egg hatching 5 November, 1989 (12 noon).  Eggs hatched through late on 7 Nov., 1989.  Gave two hatchlings to Ray Ashton, 19 November, 1989.  Released the remaining seven hatchlings 28 November, 1989 on Eglin AFB, Okaloosa Co., FL, near Pocosin Pond.  I have two slide photos of the eggs, and one slide photo of the adult female. 

  Submitted locality data to the Florida Natural Areas Inventory.

 

4) Approx. 3^rd week of October, 1989.  Okaloosa Co., FL.  Eglin AFB.  T1N, R24W, S18.  AOR.  Range Rd (RR) 234, between Live Oak creek and Turtle creek.  Small female, 145 mm total length.  Submitted locality data to the Florida Natural Areas Inventory.

 

5) 18 May, 1993.  AOR.  Richland Co., SC.  Ft. Jackson.  Division Rd., 1/10 mile north of Firebreak #35.   

 

6) 2 July, 1993.  AOR.  Richland Co., SC.  Ft. Jackson.  Dixie Rd., 4/10 mile west of Winston Rd. 

 

7) 8 May, 1994.  1415. DOR.  Liberty Co., FL.  CR 270/271 (or CR 1641), 2/10 mile west of Jct. CR 270A.  T2N, R7W, S26.  Deposited into the FL Museum of Natural History as UF#91605 (KRS#148).  Submitted locality data to the Florida Natural Areas Inventory. 

 

 

(Below) Photo 1. Southern Hognose #3.  Okaloosa Co., FL.  1989.  Photo taken after laying 12 eggs.