How does the rostral scale structure of *H. nasicus* generally compare to *H. platirhinos*?
Answer
It appears more robust and pronounced in *H. nasicus*.
While both the Western Hognose (*H. nasicus*) and the Eastern Hognose (*H. platirhinos*) possess the defining rostral scale characteristic of the *Heterodon* genus, there is a noted structural difference. The adaptation for subterranean activity appears stronger in the Western species, as its rostral scale is typically observed to be more robust and significantly more pronounced compared to that of *H. platirhinos*. This physical variation likely reflects differing levels of selective pressure related to the typical substrate consistency in their respective habitats; *H. nasicus* often favors looser, sandy soils requiring greater digging power.
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