Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) with prey
Heterodon platirhinos Latreille, 1801 - Eastern Hognose Snake. Found in Wood County in central Wisconsin.
I stumbled upon this scene while walking through a forest patch when I heard some faint repeated 'shrieking' and twitching near a small pile of forest debris. Looked down in astonishment at this small hognose grasping a frog by the face/head. Guessing the snake was about 9-11 inches long. I must have just missed the strike. The snake proceeded to swallow the frog while I tried to get shots without disturbing it too much. Didn't want it to regurgitate its prize, so couldn't get too close. The frog kicked periodically on the way down until its legs were trapped and it could no longer do so. I watched as the frogs toes finally disappeared and the snake slowly moved off into some mottled sunlight in the underbrush to digest its meal.
ID help appreciated for the prey. Maybe Green Frog - Rana clamitans?
Single exposure, uncropped, handheld, in situ. Canon MT-24EX flash unit, Ian McConnachie diffuser.
Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) with prey
Heterodon platirhinos Latreille, 1801 - Eastern Hognose Snake. Found in Wood County in central Wisconsin.
I stumbled upon this scene while walking through a forest patch when I heard some faint repeated 'shrieking' and twitching near a small pile of forest debris. Looked down in astonishment at this small hognose grasping a frog by the face/head. Guessing the snake was about 9-11 inches long. I must have just missed the strike. The snake proceeded to swallow the frog while I tried to get shots without disturbing it too much. Didn't want it to regurgitate its prize, so couldn't get too close. The frog kicked periodically on the way down until its legs were trapped and it could no longer do so. I watched as the frogs toes finally disappeared and the snake slowly moved off into some mottled sunlight in the underbrush to digest its meal.
ID help appreciated for the prey. Maybe Green Frog - Rana clamitans?
Single exposure, uncropped, handheld, in situ. Canon MT-24EX flash unit, Ian McConnachie diffuser.