Take a look at this face.
Take a look at this face.

It's so cute and derpy.
It's so cute and derpy.

This isn't a nope rope, this is a string king.
This isn't a nope rope, this is a string king.

At first sight, you might think that  this little guy is completely harmless,  
At first sight, you might think that  this little guy is completely harmless,  

and you would be a hundred percent right.
and you would be a hundred percent right.

Unless you're a frog.
Unless you're a frog.

In that case, this handsome jawline  will be the last thing you see.
In that case, this handsome jawline  will be the last thing you see.

Watch out Kermit!
Watch out Kermit!

This is the Hognose snake.
This is the Hognose snake.

Hi! I'm Danielle Dufault and you're watching  Animalogic and this is my friend, Gussie.
Hi! I'm Danielle Dufault and you're watching  Animalogic and this is my friend, Gussie.

She's so sweet.
She's so sweet.

Hognoses are relatively short  snakes, spread among three genera.
Hognoses are relatively short  snakes, spread among three genera.

One from North America, one from South  America, and one from Madagascar.
One from North America, one from South  America, and one from Madagascar.

The three genera are not closely related,  but they all have convergently evolved to  
The three genera are not closely related,  but they all have convergently evolved to  

be amazing diggers by making use of the  most unusual of shovels: their faces.
be amazing diggers by making use of the  most unusual of shovels: their faces.

Today I'm at Scales Nature Park, hanging out  with my new friend, the Western Hognose snake.
Today I'm at Scales Nature Park, hanging out  with my new friend, the Western Hognose snake.

Who's actually doing what Hognoses do best  right now, which is burrow into the ground.
Who's actually doing what Hognoses do best  right now, which is burrow into the ground.

This is one of the three species in  the North American genus, Heterodon.
This is one of the three species in  the North American genus, Heterodon.

They live in the plains east of the Rockies,  from Central Canada to Northern Mexico.
They live in the plains east of the Rockies,  from Central Canada to Northern Mexico.

Their two North American cousins are the Eastern  Hognose and the Southern Hognose, which are found  
Their two North American cousins are the Eastern  Hognose and the Southern Hognose, which are found  

across the Eastern United States and Ontario  and from Florida to the Carolinas respectively.
across the Eastern United States and Ontario  and from Florida to the Carolinas respectively.

Their genus name, Heterodon, means different  tooth, as these snakes have quite unusual teeth.
Their genus name, Heterodon, means different  tooth, as these snakes have quite unusual teeth.

So most snakes have fangs at  the front of their face but  
So most snakes have fangs at  the front of their face but  

Hognose have their fangs situated further  into their mouths, more towards their throat.
Hognose have their fangs situated further  into their mouths, more towards their throat.

It helps them secure their slithery  prey and prevents them from escaping.
It helps them secure their slithery  prey and prevents them from escaping.

Most venomous snakes, like vipers,  
Most venomous snakes, like vipers,  

have highly developed venom-injecting  fangs at the front of their mouths.
have highly developed venom-injecting  fangs at the front of their mouths.

Their strategy is to kill their  prey quickly and then swallow.
Their strategy is to kill their  prey quickly and then swallow.

Rear-fanged snakes generally aren't very venomous,  so they need a series of backward-facing teeth  
Rear-fanged snakes generally aren't very venomous,  so they need a series of backward-facing teeth  

to grasp their prey and move it towards  their throat as they inject it with venom.
to grasp their prey and move it towards  their throat as they inject it with venom.

In a way this kind of snake  is the only one that chews.
In a way this kind of snake  is the only one that chews.

So luckily, these guys do use a  little bit of venom on their prey.
So luckily, these guys do use a  little bit of venom on their prey.

But it doesn't affect humans  in any sort of significant way,  
But it doesn't affect humans  in any sort of significant way,  

which is why I'm comfortable enough  holding this beauty up close to my face.
which is why I'm comfortable enough  holding this beauty up close to my face.

Since they're harmless to predators,  they've evolved to resemble rattlesnakes.
Since they're harmless to predators,  they've evolved to resemble rattlesnakes.

This is a form of baitsy and mimicry,  
This is a form of baitsy and mimicry,  

where a harmless prey species mimics a  dangerous species to deter predators.
where a harmless prey species mimics a  dangerous species to deter predators.

Luckily for us, if you encounter one in the wild,  
Luckily for us, if you encounter one in the wild,  

you can tell them apart by  their adorable pug-like faces.
you can tell them apart by  their adorable pug-like faces.

All snakes have a terminal scale on their face  
All snakes have a terminal scale on their face  

and this one here in particular, is  kind of hardened and shovel-shaped.
and this one here in particular, is  kind of hardened and shovel-shaped.

So she uses that to dig through the ground.
So she uses that to dig through the ground.

Hognoses tend to live in areas with gravelly  or sandy soil, the ideal habitat for digging.
Hognoses tend to live in areas with gravelly  or sandy soil, the ideal habitat for digging.

When looking for a safe place to hide,  they move their face from side to side,  
When looking for a safe place to hide,  they move their face from side to side,  

while making undulating movements with their  body, quickly burrowing into the ground.
while making undulating movements with their  body, quickly burrowing into the ground.

Their whole body is lined with bands of muscles  that they use constantly to dig into the ground.
Their whole body is lined with bands of muscles  that they use constantly to dig into the ground.

Every movement that they make is like  a a series of concentric contractions.
Every movement that they make is like  a a series of concentric contractions.

Right now, she's using her whole body to dig.
Right now, she's using her whole body to dig.

Digging helps them hide from predators, as well  as take cover from the brutal sun in the Prairies.
Digging helps them hide from predators, as well  as take cover from the brutal sun in the Prairies.

It also gives them a safe place to lay their eggs.
It also gives them a safe place to lay their eggs.

And most importantly, their favourite prey are  other burrowing animals like toads and lizards.
And most importantly, their favourite prey are  other burrowing animals like toads and lizards.

Hognoses take the hunt underground.
Hognoses take the hunt underground.

If you can see behind me here.
If you can see behind me here.

But the snake is digging into the ground  face first with its scooped snout.
But the snake is digging into the ground  face first with its scooped snout.

Toads often puff themselves to  make themselves harder to eat,  
Toads often puff themselves to  make themselves harder to eat,  

but Hognoses use their rear  fangs to pop them like a balloon.
but Hognoses use their rear  fangs to pop them like a balloon.

Despite resembling venomous snakes,  these are dangerless noodles.
Despite resembling venomous snakes,  these are dangerless noodles.

But they have another line of  defense, the power of acting.
But they have another line of  defense, the power of acting.

Hognoses, like this one, aren't just  gorgeous, but they are also drama queens.
Hognoses, like this one, aren't just  gorgeous, but they are also drama queens.

North American Hognoses,  
North American Hognoses,  

particularly the Eastern Hognose, are known to  raise their head and flatten it when threatened.
particularly the Eastern Hognose, are known to  raise their head and flatten it when threatened.

This gives them a menacing  look, similar to a cobra.
This gives them a menacing  look, similar to a cobra.

Because of this, people call them puff adders,  
Because of this, people call them puff adders,  

which is actually an unrelated  venomous viper species from Africa.
which is actually an unrelated  venomous viper species from Africa.

They will hiss and strike, but not bite.
They will hiss and strike, but not bite.

At worst, they'll headbutt their aggressor,  
At worst, they'll headbutt their aggressor,  

though this is more likely to give them  a concussion than to hurt the predator.
though this is more likely to give them  a concussion than to hurt the predator.

It's like when you run out of PP in  Pokemon and have to use Struggle.
It's like when you run out of PP in  Pokemon and have to use Struggle.

And if that doesn't work, they go full ham.
And if that doesn't work, they go full ham.

They're experts of fanatosis, which you  might have seen in a previous episode,  
They're experts of fanatosis, which you  might have seen in a previous episode,  

so they like to play dead, but before they  do, they might just put on one heck of a show,  
so they like to play dead, but before they  do, they might just put on one heck of a show,  

excreting all of their bodily fluids and squirming  as though they're in the worst pain possible.
excreting all of their bodily fluids and squirming  as though they're in the worst pain possible.

The plan is to make the predator think that the  snake is sick or rotten, making it lose interest.
The plan is to make the predator think that the  snake is sick or rotten, making it lose interest.

If that doesn't work,  
If that doesn't work,  

they'll regurgitate their food in a last-ditch  attempt to gross out their predators.
they'll regurgitate their food in a last-ditch  attempt to gross out their predators.

Unfortunately, for them, this doesn't always work,  
Unfortunately, for them, this doesn't always work,  

as predatory birds like hawks and  owls seem to not be bothered by it.
as predatory birds like hawks and  owls seem to not be bothered by it.

A meal's a meal.
A meal's a meal.

So what should I talk about next?
So what should I talk about next?

Please let me know in the comments and be  sure to subscribe for new episodes every week.
Please let me know in the comments and be  sure to subscribe for new episodes every week.

Thanks for watching, see ya!
Thanks for watching, see ya!

I love that little upturn, upturned snout.
I love that little upturn, upturned snout.

It's too much.
It's too much.

Oh, look at that tongue.
Oh, look at that tongue.

Hello.
Hello.

Hello.
Hello.