Giant Madagascan Hognose Snake

Giant Madagascan Hognose Snake

Leioheterodon madagascariensis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
70–80% · Very likely
overall probability at Ankarafantsika National Park
41 Verified records at Ankarafantsika National Park
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

Leioheterodon madagascariensis, the Malagasy, Madagascar or Madagascan giant hognose (snake), is a harmless species of pseudoxyrhophiid snake endemic to the island nation of Madagascar. The species is also found on the country's smaller islands of Nosy Be, Nosy Mangabe, and Nosy Sakatia, as well as on the Comoros archipelago, in the Mozambique Channel. It is thought, by some, to have been introduced to the Grande Comoro. Mature giant hognose snakes can measure between 130 and 180 cm (4 ft. to nearly 6 ft., or between 1-2 meters) in length, and be roughly the thickness of an average adult human's arm. Similarly to the Heterodon or Lystrophis genera of new-world hognoses, the Madagascar giant hognose, when threatened, will raise its head, open its mouth and inflate the skin around its neck and chin, superficially mimicking a cobra (or even a bearded dragon) in defensive posture, in an attempt to look larger and more intimidating. Wikipedia →

70–80% of wildlife watchers report a Giant Madagascan Hognose Snake sighting in Ankarafantsika National Park, based on 41 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

📅 Monthly Probability

70–80
Jan
60–70
Feb
70–80
Mar
80–90
Apr
70–80
May
60–70
Jun
70–80
Jul
70–80
Aug
30–40
Sep
50–60
Oct
80–90
Nov
80–90
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Ankarafantsika National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
70–80%
2 Ranomafana National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Giant Madagascan Hognose Snake in Ankarafantsika National Park?

About 74% of wildlife watchers report a Giant Madagascan Hognose Snake sighting in Ankarafantsika National Park, based on 41 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Giant Madagascan Hognose Snake in Ankarafantsika National Park?

April has the highest sighting rate for Giant Madagascan Hognose Snake in Ankarafantsika National Park in our monthly data.

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