The Eastern Hognose, Heterodon platirhinos. And the ruddiest one I have ever seen. They range from grays and browns to this color (apparently) in the range that includes Arkansas. This one had a Copperhead imitation event going for him. However, it is questionable whether in this age of man this would be useful. It is more likely to get your head chopped off with a lawn instrument than protect you from some predator.

This, of course, is the viper that performs the fake death coil, lolling its tongue and all. Note that upturned nose. A very distinctive feature. It is used for digging toads and frogs up.

One view of the spread hood of the Hognose. Accompanied by hissing and flopping and some fake bite jabs. Lovely yellow base color here in a Norm shot.

The Southern Hognose, Heterodon simus, from Florida. Note the recent meal in the mid-body bulge. The Southern race is reportedly much less variable in color and thus they all basically look like this one.

Graham's Crayfish Snake, Regina grahamii. Very similar to the Queen Snake. Both occur in Arkansas and are closely related. The Graham's belly has a single row of spots or no row and the Queen has a double row. Both are secretive and mostly nocturnal feeders. This one was in the dirt road that tracks through the middle of the marshes of Red Slough Refuge in Oklahoma.

One of the most recognizable snakes in Arkansas, the Speckled Kingsnake. The only version of the extensive Lampropeltis getula group in the state. This is L. g. holbrooki. They can grow up to six feet in length but I have never seen over a four footer. Beautiful when freshly molted. Docile after a few first strikes and those warning tail rattles (no true rattles, just tail on dry leaves). Those small sharp teeth can draw some blood. In Arkansas, this pattern of dark black and yellow coloration is distinctive.

The silky smooth Great Plains Rat Snake, Elaphe guttata emoryi. One of the corn snakes. I have never seen a true corn snake in AR but I have seen these guys in Pope and in White county. Once raised some eggs of this species. They are found in the NW half of the state and in isolated areas in the southern counties. Often gentle when handled.