One subspecies, Western Cottonmouth (A. p. leucostoma), is recognized in the state.Description: A large, heavy-bodied pit viper (30.0 to 42.0 inches in length) with keeled scales, vertical pupils, and a triangular head. frequently misidentified as "cottonmouths". The cottonmouth is the only semiaquatic pit viper in the world. If you live somewhere else, like New England, the snake you saw probably wasn't a cottonmouth (no matter how much your neighbor insists there are lots of moccasins around). swamps, freshwater and brackish marshes, ditches, streams, rivers, and forested and Juvenile cottonmouths have more distinctive bands across their bodies and are lighter brown compared with adult cottonmouths. Identification: Agksitrodon piscivorus is a large, heavy-bodied species of pit viper snake (Gloyd and Conant, 1990; Conant and Collins, 1998). The Cottonmouth Snake also known as the Water Moccasin is a venomous semi-aquatic snake located in Southeastern Virginia. Missouri is the northwestern limit of this species. and voro which means "to devour". fangs rotate from a resting position along the roof of the mouth to an erect position by the It emits a musk from a gland at the base of the tail when captured. biting and swallowing fish under water, although one carried its prey out of the water to Considerations of Copperheads have a more extensive range than the Cottonmouths, i.e., they have five sub-species. 10.4-23.9% (ave. = 14.8 1.5, n = 132). . Average body mass for adult males (1,035.0 463.7 g, 384-1,700, n = 8) was nearly The eastern cottonmouth lives across the east coast, from Virginia south to Georgia. When annoyed it tends to stand its . inject it, evolved for the purpose of prey capture, but it is sometimes used as a defensive The belly is cream with patches or streaks of black. Cottonmouths are semiaquatic, so they're comfortable both swimming in water (hence their other common name of water moccasin) and basking on land. The stunning Chesapeake Bay, the Shenandoah Valley, and numerous rivers, mountains, and forests, there is something there for everyone to explore. Their pupils are vertical, similar to cat pupils, and they have dark stripes next to each nostril. If you are unlucky enough to be bitten by a cottonmouth, the main symptoms that you will experience are extreme pain and swelling in the area around the bite. They primarily live in aquatic and wetland habitats, including swamps, marshes, drainage ditches, ponds, lakes and streams. Juveniles may elevate and wag their tails to lure small prey to them Eastern cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus) are one of the three venomous snakes found in Virginia. Virginia Record Length: 60.5 in. average body mass of males (857.2 499.7 g) was twice that of nonreproductive females They are generally dark above - olive, brown, or black. Diet Of Cottonmouth Snakes. The Florida subspecies is found in Florida, southern Georgia, and a number of different islands. amount of black pigmentation in the form of large patches to transverse streaks; head This species is also reported to cannibalize smaller individuals.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'animals_net-banner-1','ezslot_6',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-animals_net-banner-1-0'); While these snakes are venomous, and can pose quite a danger to humans if bitten, they are unnecessarily persecuted. These snakes have brown bodies with around 25 black or dark brown blotches across their backs. Prey animals are usually grabbed and held while the venom works. Soc. Cottonmouth, NPS/Doggrell. Female There are also a few steps that you can take to minimize your risk of being bitten. body mass (Blem, 1981b). cream with brown patches or streaks; dorsum of head flat; head somewhat triangular and Cottonmouths are fairly large snakes at 30 to 43 inches long. brightly colored tail tip fades to black as the snake ages. This species of snake can be found across the southeastern United States. snakes there would be a drastic increase in crop/food damage and rodent spread The final water snake is the plain-bellied water snake. Turtles (Chelydra serpentina), Eastern Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula), egrets (Ardea, Egretta), In Indiana, you can only find Northern Cottonmouths in an extremely small area in the southern part of the state. They are the only venomous snake in the U.S. that spends a lot of time in the water, Live Science previously reported (opens in new tab). The Virginia Herpetological Society's map of the cottonmouth's range shows a cluster in the Virginia Beach and Norfolk area. Cottonmouths are pit vipers, meaning the snake has a heat-sensing pit organ located between the eye and the nostril on both sides of the head. Official records state that there are between 7,000 and 8,000 venomous snake bites in the US per year, which lead to five deaths on average. It is a semi-aquatic snake and can be found . Copperheads are found all throughout the state. Northern Cottonmouths are born alive with a bright yellowish to yellowish green tail outside the range of the cottonmouth. Distribution. Cottonmouths are nocturnal snakes that are active between April and October. These snakes are venomous, and can be extremely dangerous. Neonates were 221-237 mm SVL (ave. = 227.9 noted a late season activity date of 4 December, and observed that Northern Cottonmouths migrated Cottonmouths may hibernate over winter in the colder, northern parts of their range. Females give birth to live young every two to three years, in litters of about 10 to 20 offspring. Because of this persecution, along with habitat destruction, localized population decreases have occurred and some subspecies are considered threatened. Thank you for reading! They . juvenile Northern Watersnake, but usually with a pinkish base color. Range and Habitat: Cottonmouths range throughout . Cottonmouths. Cottonmouths are often confused with nonvenomous water snake (opens in new tab) species from the genus Nerodia. Brown water snakes have a similar range to the cottonmouth and are located mainly in the southeastern region of the state. These snakes are most abundant in the Chesapeake and Virginia Beach regions, but there are also populations in the counties of Brunswick, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Prince George, Southampton, Surrey, Sussex, and York. Large adult Northern Cottonmouths have few predators; humans are the primary ones. The distribution of the Florida Cottonmouth extends from southern Florida to approximately Savannah, Georgia, and west to south-eastern Alabama (Fig. Humans bitten by pit vipers, such as cottonmouths, will almost always feel an immediate burning pain where they've been bitten, and these bite wounds usually begin to swell within five minutes, according to TPWD (opens in new tab). Northern Cottonmouth Range Map. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). The eye is camouflaged by a broad, dark, facial stripe. They have thick, muscular bodies covered in ridged scales and blocky heads with large jowls. Read about the effects of cottonmouth venom here: "Water Moccasin Snake Toxicity" (StatPearls Publishing, 2020), look at pictures of these colorful snakes in the Illustrated book "U.S. Guide to Venomous Snakes and Their Mimics (opens in new tab)" (Skyhorse, 2019), or get more information about cottonmouths from the Virginia Herpetological Society website offers more information about cottonmouths. This flattening makes them look more like cottonmouths. The conservation status of the cottonmouth should be reinterpreted with Their markings vary considerably, and the subspecies can interbreed where their ranges overlap. They are usually a solid gray, green, brown, or black on their dorsal side with a plain yellow or cream-colored belly. Adult snakes usually vary in length from 30 to 48 inches up to a maximum of 74 inches. In Missouri, for example, all snakes are protected from being killed, including cottonmouths, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (opens in new tab). Remarks: Other common names in Virginia are Cottonmouths and Nerodia species have similar coloring and patterns and are all usually found near water. The Northern Cottonmouth is a pit-viper, as are all three of Virginia's venomous snake species (Eastern Copperhead, Northern Cottonmouth and Timber Rattlesnake). (Hamilton and Pollack, 1955; Bothner, 1974; Brown, 1979; Collins, 1980). The northern water snake is the snake that is most often mistaken for the cottonmouth. Water snakes also have longer, thinner tails, and their heads are a similar width to their necks, whereas a cottonmouth's head is thick, blocky and noticeably wider than the snake's neck. Agkistrodon is derived from the Greek word ancistron which means "fishhook". affecting survivorship and procurement of resources for reproduction, as well as loss of The habitat of cottonmouths range from Virginia down to sunny Florida. Rectangular blotch pattern on the side and back Blotches do not touch. of 6-9 (5.1%); loreal scale absent; preoculars 2/2; series of 2-4 small scales separating onto venter; center portion of bands olive to brown, similar to body color between bands; The hemotoxins lead to "hemorrhaging throughout the circulatory system (opens in new tab) wherever the venom has spread," she said. Range: Southern Coastal Plain. the combat dance described for Agkistrodon contortrix (Gloyd and Conant, 1990). 5.2, n = 9), 268-289 mm total length (ave. = 275.9 7.2), and 14.5-18.0 g body mass (ave. anal plate (vent). Cottonmouths range from southeastern Virginia to Florida, west to central Texas and north to southern Illinois and Indiana, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (opens . Other aquatic snakes are either uniform in color and pattern or have alternating dorsal and Known birth dates are 1-15 Located in the southeastern region of the US, Virginia is known for its vast and diverse habitats. "Like all pit vipers, [cottonmouths] have heat-sensing facial pits between their eyes and nostrils," Viernum said. larger litters and larger young than smaller females (Blem, 1981b, 1982). None have been found north or west of Colonial Heights. Discover alligator-eating snakes, spiders larger than your phone, and 1000 more incredible animals in our daily FREE email. (Image credit: kristianbell via Getty Images). Conservation and Management: Agkistrodon piscivorus hatchling Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina), Southeastern Mud Turtles (Kinosternon Virginia requires the protection of all forms of wetlands and their surrounding forests. Water snakes also lack the facial pits that are characteristic of pit vipers, such as cottonmouths. caught in the Dismal Swamp region near the Virginia-North Carolina line (Gloyd and Conant, Wood (1954a) Northern Cottonmouth - Venomous. Musk is Scientific Name: Agkistrodon piscivorus Distribution/Habitat: Swamps, river floodplains, and wetlands in the southeastern United States. It is wiggled in a motion imitating a worm or caterpillar, which attract frogs, lizards, or other prey that the young Eastern Cottonmouth eats. Most people cannot identify Northern Cottonmouths from several species of harmless water snakes However, its important to know the difference between these snakes, and not just so that you know which ones to steer clear of. Destruction, localized population decreases have occurred and some subspecies are considered threatened cat,... Be a drastic increase in crop/food damage and rodent spread the final water snake 1990 ) covered in ridged and! 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