Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)
When a Hog-nosed Snake is disturbed, it will usually lie motionless at first, relying on its camouflage pattern to protect it. When threatened, it will try a number of tactics to escape harm. A master of fakery, this harmless snake will spread its neck like a cobra, vibrate the tip of its tail, release a foul smelling liquid, assume a coiled defensive position, gape its mouth, hiss loudly and pretend to strike with a closed mouth. If none of these defences work, the snake will roll over and play dead, mouth open and tongue dangling to the side!
