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Eastern Hog-Nosed Snake
The Eastern hog-nosed snake (Heterodon platirhinos) is a medium-sized snake with an upturned scale on the end of its snout. The scale gives the snake a pig- or hog-like appearance. In Canada, Eastern hog-nosed snakes are found in Southern Ontario south of the Canadian Shield. They are also found in the Eastern United States as far south as Florida and Texas. The Eastern hog-nosed snake is well-known for its elaborate defensive display: first, the snake flattens its neck into a cobra-like hood, and if that does not deter predators, it flips onto its back and plays dead. (See also Snake Species in Canada.)