Sound production in the eastern hognose snake, Heterodon platyrhinos (Serpentes: Colubridae): Does it snore?

Abstract

Heterodon platyrhinos normally produces sounds as one part of its elaborate defensive behavior. This species has a distinctive quadriphasic sound, reflecting the underlying triphasic ventilatory pattern of snakes. Heterodon produces sound during both inhalation and exhalation; in both cases the sounds span a broad frequency range (from approximately 1,000 to 11.000 Hz) with frequencies below 3,500 Hz having higher amplitudes. Temporal congruence between sound production and deflection of a strain gauge mounted over the external nares of unrestrained H. platyrhinos provide the first experimental evidence for sound production through the nasal passageway in snakes.