Banded Hognose Snake

About the Banded Hognose Snake

Xenodon pulcher is a species of fossorial, mildly venomous snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to southern South America. Xenodon pulcher was originally described as Heterodon pulcher and later assigned to the genus Lystrophis, a genus of South American hognose snakes, which while similar in appearance to North American (Heterodon) and Madagascan (Leioheterodon) hognoses, are not closely related.

Common names for Xenodon pulcher include tricolor hognose snake, banded hognose snake, false coral snake, and culebra falsa in South American Spanish. It is sometimes incorrectly called ringed hognose snake, the common name for Xenodon semicinctus. Both X. pulcher and X. semicinctus are similar in appearance, which may be the cause of naming confusion.

This tricolor hognose snake is distinguishable by its namesake upturned rostral scale and striking banded pattern of white stripes bordered with black on a red base. It uses mimicry for defense, as it displays the same colors and patterns as some venomous coral snakes. When threatened, it may use a defensive display involving bluff strikes, neck... Wikipedia →