Northern Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus
Description 3
VENOMOUS. Keeled scales, broad head with a narrow neck, and vertical slit pupils. Stocky body ranges from black to brown to tan with a distinctive dark horizontal stripe on the side of the head from cheek to eyes. Pattern on the body darkens with age and may disappear entirely. Usually 24 to 36 inches (61-91cm). (J. R. Dixon and J. E. Werler, Texas Snakes: A Field Guide, University of Texas Press, 2000.)
IDENTIFICATION NOTES: Young individuals may resemble copperheads. Their pattern darkens with age and may be hard to see, becoming dark brown or nearly black over time. A cottonmouth's pattern edges have a jagged or "pixelated" appearance in comparison to copperheads. Head has an angular shape with a dark horizontal stripe through the eyes like a bandit mask. The top of their head is relatively flat, with a ridge shading their eyes from above. When threatened, may gape open its mouth to show the white interior. Other harmless nonvenomous species may ALSO gape to show a white mouth, do not rely on it as a sign of a venomous snake. Contrary to myth, cottonmouths are NOT aggressive and tend to freeze and stay still when faced by a predator or human.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Amber Leung, all rights reserved
- (c) tom spinker, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/42389547@N00/2613243736
- (c) Amber Leung, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
