Recently, Tom was surveying a portion of the Sam Houston Nationaf Forest for additional specimens of the western pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius streckeri). He knew that serpent was common to the area, as he had found several there in the past; in fact, the specimen whose ph0tograph is posted here was found in that area, on the path he was now surveying. Suddenly, he came upon an eastern hog-nosed snake (Heterodon platirhinos) on the same path and was amazed at the similarities in colorations and markings. “At first glance,” he admitted, “I actually thought I’d come upon a Sistrurus.” It is obvious why Tom, one of the most experienced herpetologists in the world, could have been fooled — if only for an instant — into mistaking this particular eastern hog-nosed snake for a western pygmy rattlesnake. They are remarkably similar, and — most likely — the resemblance is not coincidental. [...]