Reticulated Hognose Snake

About the Reticulated Hognose Snake

Leioheterodon geayi, commonly known as Geay's hognose snake, the Madagascan speckled hognose snake, and the speckled hognose snake, is a species of mildly venomous snake in the family Lamprophiidae. The species is native to southwestern Madagascar.

The specific name, geayi, is in honor of French naturalist Martin François Geay (1859-1910) who collected the type specimen. The preferred natural habitats of L. geayi are forest, savanna, and sandy areas, but it has also been found in pastures and villages.

L. geayi can grow to a total length (including tail) of 90–140 cm (35–55 in). It is an opisthoglyphous ("rear-fanged") snake, having a pair of enlarged teeth at the rear of each maxilla (upper jaw). L. geayi is terrestrial and diurnal.

L. geayi is oviparous. Glaw F, Vences M (1994). A Fieldguide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, Second Edition. Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlag / Serpents Tale. 480 pp. ISBN 978-3929449013. Mocquard F (1905). "Description de deux nouvelles espèces de Reptiles ". Bulletin du Muséum national d'histoire naturelle de Paris... Wikipedia →