Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
Croatan National Forest, Craven Co., NC 8/28/05.
Cottonmouth Wildlife Viewing
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Cottonmouth ...
EASTERN COTTONMOUTH
Photo Credit: Roger Birkhead
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Agkistrodon piscivorus ...
Cottonmouth
Related Category: Vertebrate Zoology
see water moccasin.
More on Cottonmouth
Water Moccasin - or cottonmouth, highly venomous snake, Ancistrodon piscivorus, of the swamps and bayous of the S United States.
Cottonmouths hold some prey in their jaws allowing their venom to take hold, but some prey, mainly those that will fight back, are struck and then released. The snakes will then follow the scent of this prey if the small animal runs away.
Cottonmouth Species Profile
Some of the many vernacular names for this snake are water moccasin, swamp adder and trapjaw. This is a rather slow moving, abundant, viperine snake that is quite apt to stand its ground rather than run if frightened.
The Cottonmouth is from the order Squamata. Species from this order are amphisbaenians, lizards or snakes. There are over 6,000 living species belonging to the squamata order - it is the largest order of all reptiles.
A juvenile cottonmouth, note yellow tail tip.
Photo by Jeff Hall
This website created by: J. Willson, Y. Kornilev, W. Anderson, G. Connette and E. Eskew.
For comments or questions contact M. Dorcas: midorcas@davidson.edu.
M.
The Western Cottonmouth is often incorrectly referred to as a "water moccasin." Unfortunately, this incorrect name has been used for almost any dark snake found in or near water.
Cottonmouth: Agkistrodon piscivorus
Appearance:
The cottonmouth, or water moccasin, is a dark-colored, heavy-bodied snake that can grow to an average of 2-4 feet in length.
Cottonmouth / Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus) - Venomous
Photos by J.D. Willson unless otherwise noted ...
Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma)
Description The cottonmouth is a dark, stout, thick-bodied venomous snake. When frightened, the cottonmouth will pop its mouth open.
Florida Cottonmouth
Relatives in same Genus
Common Cantil (A. bilineatus bilineatus)
Ornate Cantil (A. bilineatus taylori)
Southern Copperhead (A. contortrix contortrix)
Broad-banded Copperhead (A. contortrix laticinctus) ...
Florida Cottonmouth
Sighting:
Loop Road, Big Cypress National Preserve, Collier County, Florida ...
Florida Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti
The Florida cottonmouth, also called the cottonmouth moccasin and water moccasin, is one of three subspecies of the only venomous water snake in North America.
Cottonmouth snakes are carnivorous. In the wild these snakes will eat almost anything including: fish, amphibians, small reptiles, birds and small mammals. The cottonmouth is very aggressive and attacks at lightning speed.
Cottonmouth are more territorial than most of the other snakes found in Arkansas. Being territorial, they "mark their territory", especially when approached.
Cottonmouths are an important food source for larger animals such as king snakes, great blue herons, and an occasionally large mouth bass. They help keep our waterways clean because they are scavengers as well as predators.
The western cottonmouth a small- to medium-sized pit viper with an attitude! This 2 - 3 foot (rarely 4ft.) snake is found just about everywhere in the state, even in habitats that do not seem favorable.
Cottonmouth, North Carolina
This Month in Photo of the Day: Nature and Weather Photos
While working as a field researcher for a biodiversity ...
Cottonmouth, copperhead
CLASS: Reptilia (reptiles)
ORDER: Squamata (amphisbaenians, lizards, and snakes [scaly]) ...
Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous)
photo credit: Whit Gibbons
Sucking Milk
In farming communities throughout the world, it is a common superstition that snakes suck the milk from cows and goats.
Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon Piscivorus, Pit Viper Family, Crotalidae Family, United States, Genus Agkistrodon
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Cottonmouth
Kennicott seems unsure of himself identifying the Cottonmouth. Perhaps he was confused by it and several other species of large, heavy-bodied water snakes common where he collected in Union County, Illinois.
Crotalus duressus ...
Adult FL Cottonmouth Juvenile FL Cottonmouth
FL Box Turtle FL Keys Black Racer
FL Green Watersnake ...
Moccasin, Water (Cottonmouth)
Agkistrodon piscivorus
Queen Snake
Regina septemvittata ...
A Cottonmouth Trevally off Botany Bay
A Cowtail Stingray at North West Island
A Cowtail Stingray caught at the Triangular Islands
A Cox's Gudgeon at Bellinger River
A Cox's Gudgeon caught in Toongabbie Creek ...
dog (Canis familiaris), coyote (C. latrans), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), barn owl (Tyto alba), barred owl (Strix varia), great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), northern harrier (Circus cyaneus), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), eastern cottonmouth ...
eastern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus)
eastern fence lizard (Sceloporous undulatus)
eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)
eastern glass lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis)
eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platyrhinos) ...
The famous, and venomous cottonmouth (or water moccasin), Agkistrodon piscivorus, is not found in Minnesota or Iowa. The farthest north cottonmouths have been recorded is central Missouri.
Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, and Cottonmouths belong to a group of snakes known as pit vipers.
This stout-bodied snake shows extreme variations in color and pattern, and is unfortunately confused by many with the poisonous water moccasin, or cottonmouth.
Reptiles in the swamp include the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, cottonmouth, eastern coral snake, copper head, alligator and snapping turtle.
Opossums have a remarkably robust immune system, and show partial or total immunity to the venom of rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and other pit vipers.
Despite the impressive size of the adult amphiuma, this amphibian does have its natural enemies, like mudsnakes and cottonmouths. The amphiuma also has some human enemies: anglers who may accidentally catch and then kill the big salamander.
Champion Immune Systems: Opossums have a remarkably robust immune system, and show partial or total immunity to the venom of rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and other pit vipers.
Modern Myths - Size
Common Snakes
Venomous Snakes
Common Myths - Cottonmouths in New England ...
The decorative but dangerous American copperhead holds membership in the pit viper family-those venomous snakes that include cottonmouth water moccasins and rattlesnakes.
Copperhead Characteristics ...
Some other harmless snakes that you may find in your yard are black rat snakes, fox snakes, hognose snakes and banded water snakes. The venomous snakes that are found in the state are: northern copperhead, timber rattlesnake, cottonmouth and ...
 See also: Snake, Reptile, Rattlesnake, Lizard, Timber Rattlesnake
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