Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am currently taking a herpetology course at Purdue University Calumet, and the professor showed us a slide of a snake that a child had brought him a few years ago. He identified it as an albino eastern hognose (Heterodon platyrhinos), but it was all white with black eyes. I would consider that leucisitic and not albino. He said it was collected in NW Indiana, and the only type of hognose snake we have here is the eastern. Anyway, I have heard of leucistic western hognose snakes, but never of a leucistic eastern hognose. Is this the first leucistic Eastern Hognose to be captured? I will try to borrow the slide from the professor and post the picture ASAP.

Thanks,
Geary

P.S. Unfortunately the professor didn't realise the true value of this find and gave the animal back to the kid that found him to keep as a pet. I'm going to try to find out if he remembers how to get in contact with him to see if it is still alive.

Herpetology course at Purdue University. Hmmm. I'm going to have to look into that once I graduate from high school. I live in LaPorte; it would be nice to go some place nearby for college. That's interesting about the hognose. I have never heard of a Leucistic Eastern. I hope you can track it down.
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James

WOW!!! THAT'S AN AMAZING FIND!!!!!!!!! Please see what you can do!

Just out of curiosity, what would you guys think a snake like this would be worth?

Thanks,
Geary

I don't know, a lot probably. If you get this guy and breed a couple generations, you might be the first to produce an eastern leucistic in captivity! The pride in that would be enough for me. Eastern hognose snakes are hard to get eating mice though, so I don't know if there's a high demand in the pet trade. I bet that kid had a hard time taking care of it.
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James

Leucistic hognose right now are worth 5000.00ea.