Adult Cottonmouth
Cottonmouth
(Agkistrodon piscivorus)
Description: 20-74 1/2 (50.8-189.2 cm). A dark, heavy-bodied water snake; broad-based head is noticeably wider than neck. Olive, brown, or black above; patternless or with serrated-edged dark crossbands. Wide light-bordered, dark-brown cheek stripe distinct, obscure, or absent. Head flat-topped; eyes with vertical pupils (not visible from directly above as are eyes of harmless water snakes); facial pit between eye and nostril. Young strongly patterned and bear bright yellow tipped tails. Scale keeled, in 25 rows.
Warning: Do not disturb or attempt to handle! The Cottonmouth's bite is far more serious than that of the Copperhead and can be fatal. When annoyed, the Cottonmouth tends to stand its ground and may gape repeatedly at an intruder, exposing the light cotton lining of its mouth.
Subspecies: Three; broad zones of intergradation.
Eastern (A. p. piscivorus), cheek stripe not well defined, snout tip lacks vertical markings; coastal plain, se. Virginia south through Carolinas, west through c. Georgia into Alabama.
Florida (A. p. conanti), cheek stripe distinct, 2 vertical dark marks on snout tip; se. Alabama, s. Georgia, Florida.
Western (A. p. leucostoma); head and body markings obscure or absent; sw. Kentucky, w. Tennessee, and w. Alabama, west through s. Missouri to sc. Oklahoma and c. Texas.
Breeding: Live-bearing. Mates spring and fall. August to September females give birth to 1-15 young, 7-13 (18-33 cm) long. Females mature in 3 years and give birth every other year.
Habitat: Lowland swamps, lakes, rivers, bayheads, sloughs, irrigation ditches, canals, rice fields, to small clear rocky mountain streams; sea level to ca. 1,500' (450 m).
Range: Se. Virginia south to upper Florida Keys, west to s. Illinois, s. Missouri, sc. Oklahoma and c. Texas. Isolated population in nc. Missouri.
Discussion: Also called trap jaw or water moccasin. Unlike other water snakes, it swims with head well out of water. Although it may be observed basking during the day, it is more active at night. Preys on sirens, frogs, fishes, snakes, and birds.