Its diet mostly consists of ants, which are believed to help with its ability to produce blood from vessels near its eyes, but it eats other insects and invertebrates, as well.

Its typical hunting method involves digging itself into the sand, leaving only its head exposed, and waiting for prey to pass by.

However, this is mainly used in desperate emergencies, else it will try to run to the nearest bush it can find, dive in a rodent's burrow, or bury/shuffle into the sand like a shovel.

P. p. platyrhinos is native to the Great Basin Desert area of North America.

It occurs primarily in Nevada, where its range covers most of the state, but its territory also extends into parts of Idaho, Utah, and Oregon.