snake species (Eastern Copperhead, Northern Cottonmouth and Timber Rattlesnake). diseases. While close inspection of a snakes face and/or its bum is a definitive way to As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. They have even been known to be cannibalistic, but the bulk of their diet consists of fish and frogs. Northern Cottonmouth Range Map. 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. Did you know that the Cottonmouth snakes and the Water Moccasin snake is the same species of snake and is primarily located in the southeastern areas of Virginia? Ernst, 1992). Within their range the species is broken up into three separate subspecies; the Florida, western, and eastern cottonmouths. obscured by black pigment, especially during shedding; venter cream-colored with a variable Juvenile cottonmouths have more distinctive bands across their bodies and are lighter brown compared with adult cottonmouths. often classified in the subfamily Crotalinae, although some taxonomists refer them to full (1,535 mm total length) and in the upper end of Newport News City Park (1,536 mm). There are a few ways you can tell a nonvenomous water snake from a venomous water moccasin, or cottonmouth, according to the University of Florida (opens in new tab). snake inhabiting lowland habitats in southeastern Virginia. (2004) locality points remaining unsourced ().It has been museum vouchered for 66 of 75 counties (), with 5 additional counties having other forms of reported occurrence ().Years of collection range from 1892 to present. "Cottonmouths are highly aquatic and spend most of their time in water," he told me in an email. considerably larger (976.9 142.2 mm, 755-1,340, n = 51) than females (772.8 74.1 mm, This article was edited on Nov. 2 by Live Science managing editor Tia Ghose. 1990). will do its best to avoid you. pickerel (Esox americanus), bass (Micropterus spp. The "pit" In recorded Virginia history, the venomous cottonmouth has only especially in warm months. Agkistrodon piscivorus is viviparous. otters (Lutra canadensis), dogs, and free-ranging domestic cats (Ernst and Barbour, 1989b; (402.6 107.4 g) in a population in Chesterfield County. Baby cottonmouths are brightly colored and independent the moment they come into the world. *Click on a thumbnail for a larger version. They have a narrow viper-shaped head (almost triangular, but not as much as snakes like the rattlesnake). Because of this persecution, along with habitat destruction, localized population decreases have occurred and some subspecies are considered threatened. Cottonmouths have accounted for less than 1% of all snakebite deaths in the U.S., according to TPWD. Every day A-Z Animals sends out some of the most incredible facts in the world from our free newsletter. Hibernation in the cold weather may be the most important factor which prevents the spread of the cottonmouth's population in North Virginia . In this ruling, however, the ICZN also placed the name Cottonmouths are found mostly in swampy habitats but may also be found along the edges of slow-moving . It is one of the world's few semiaquatic vipers (along with the Florida cottonmouth ), and is native to the southeastern United States. subrubrum), Eastern Hog-Nosed Snakes (Heterodon platirhinos), and least shrews (Cryptotis parva) Environmental variation Anyone who suffers a cottonmouth bite should seek medical attention immediately. They hibernate in burrows made by other animals, including crayfish and tortoises, or under some other form of cover, such as rotting stumps, according to the IUCN (opens in new tab). Being bitten and injected with cottonmouth venom can lead to "temporary and/or permanent tissue and muscle damage; loss of an extremity, depending on the location of the bite; internal bleeding; and extreme pain around the injection area," Viernum added. Biology: Agkistrodon piscivorus is a semiaquatic Although the chances of being bitten by a cottonmouth are relatively low, its still important to keep your wits about you while you are out and about in Virginia. The Eastern cottonmouth is restricted to Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama. In a zoological setting these snakes are provided with dense vegetation, hiding places, and a large water source. . and early November. 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. When swimming, they tend to hold their head up above the water while their body skims along the top. The cottonmouth ranges over Virginia, West Virginia, Oklahoma,Texas and a great many states in between. The cottonmouth moccasin's venom can kill you. Then sign up right now and you'll start receiving our daily newsletter absolutely free. contortrix) and the Northern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus). When they are threatened, cottonmouths often coil their bodies and open their mouth wide in a defensive position to ward off any would-be predators. boards and other shelters. Other local names for cottonmouths include black moccasins, gapers, mangrove rattlers, snap jaws, stub-tail snakes, swamp lions, trap jaws, water mambas and water pilots. = 55). The smallest Since Northern Cottonmouths are typically near water, the bulk of their diet is made up of fish and frogs. Diet Of Cottonmouth Snakes. cream with brown patches or streaks; dorsum of head flat; head somewhat triangular and They eat fish, small mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles including other snakes and even smaller water moccasins, according to the University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web (opens in new tab) (ADW). Older adults may be a uniformed dark color, usually black, without a discernable pattern. Using multi-locus nuclear data, Burbrink and Guiher (2015, Zool. Adults are typically 30 - 48 inches, but can grow up to 61 inches long. they are underwater. and observed that the population was skewed to large adults. 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. Low winter temperatures limit its distribution. If you have the misfortune to be bitten by a cottonmouth moccasin . These snakes have been found in Virginia Record Length: 60.5 in. Other water snakes quickly retreat. Scutellation: Ventrals 125-136 (ave. = 131.8 first used, was ruled unavailable as a binomial publication by the International Commission While cottonmouths are venomous they are placid snakes that only bite if Cottonmouths are venomous, and they can be quite dangerous if you disturb or threaten them, but they should not be vilified. Although bites are rare, cottonmouth venom is potent and can be deadly to humans. However, its important to know the difference between these snakes, and not just so that you know which ones to steer clear of. broken at middorsal line, and some may occur as individual halves; in some snakes, bands The family Viperidae is represented in Virginia by only three species of pit vipers: the longer exist. The yellow tail tip is used as a lure for frogs, lizards and other prey items. The venom of this snake is more toxic than that of the Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix); located between the eye and nostril that is used to aid in prey location. Size: 30 - 48 inches. Hibernation. Other local names for cottonmouths include black moccasins . When their mouth gape open, it exposes the white lining, which resembles cotton. The outer edges of the bands are usually black. (Hamilton and Pollack, 1955; Bothner, 1974; Brown, 1979; Collins, 1980). Cottonmouths in Virginia: Where They Live and How Often They Bite, National Library of Medicine, Available here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546645/. The average number of ventrals was similar in both males (131.9 2.0, 125-136, n = 73) and Though superstitiously believe to be an aggressive snake, when wild specimens were tested for response to human encounters, half of the snakes immediately attempted to flee, while the rest exhibited a threat display. 660-940, n = 43), and males reached a larger total length (to 1,536 mm) than females (to Patrick Pester is a staff writer for Live Science. Subadults or young adults may retain traces of a juvenile pattern. The belly is cream with patches or streaks of black. higher in males (46.3 1.6, 41-50, n = 70) than in females (43.8 1.4, 39-46, n = 60). 6. The When it opens its mouth, the distinctive white interior is displayed. Cottonmouths possess cytotoxic venom, which attacks and destroys tissue. They . Musk is In contrast, the water moccasins with the scientific name agkistrodon piscivorus are also venomous snakes. Phylogenet. onto venter; center portion of bands olive to brown, similar to body color between bands; . Cottonmouths. Active during the day and often seen basking on overhead vegetation over Instead, cottonmouths only occur in the southeastern corner, with most populations living south of the James River. Adults are reddish brown These ambush predators will feed on a wide variety of prey, but the vast majority of their diet consists of small fish and frogs. The habitat of cottonmouths range from Virginia down to sunny Florida. They are found primarily in southeastern virginia. Their markings vary considerably, and the subspecies can interbreed where their ranges overlap. 173: 505526) Missouri is the northwestern limit of this species. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Range: Southern Coastal Plain. Southampton County, Taxonomy: available through. partially confirmed previous mitochondrial hypotheses (Guiher and Burbrink 2008, Mol. The term Cottonmouth snakes are residents of the United States alone. The males also fight each other when competing for females. Cottonmouths are semiaquatic, so they're comfortable both swimming in water (hence their other common name of water moccasin) and basking on land. Although bites are rare, cottonmouth venom can be deadly to humans. Although they are not venomous, they readily bite when threatened or handled. diseases. The Northern Cottonmouth is a pit-viper, as are all three of Virginia's venomous snake species (Eastern Copperhead, Northern Cottonmouth and Timber Rattlesnake). The snakes in the test only struck when lifted with a mechanical hand. Most of their time is spent in or around the water, and they are commonly viewed sunning themselves when out of the water. and voro which means "to devour". They will not hesitate to bite if molested, however. Chesterfield County, There are three subspecies of cottonmouth recognized by the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) (opens in new tab). The most prominent feature of the Cottonmouth is its white mouth which has the color of cotton. Venomous snakes in Washington: piscivorus on the Official List of Specific Names in Zoology, "notwithstanding that it was Therefore, its really important to watch where you tread particularly when you are stepping over logs and rocks. the Chesterfield County population was 7.7 1.8 (n = 24), with larger females bearing After calling for emergency services, the CDC recommends that snakebite victims take a photo of the snake from a safe distance if possible, remain calm and apply first aid while waiting for emergency medical service personnel to arrive. These venomous snakes, also commonly known as "water moccasin," cottonmouth snakes occur in the western third of Tennessee, including counties on the northern Highland Rim. origin of the common name). Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. measure. J. Linn. The head is triangular and flattened on top. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'animals_net-box-4','ezslot_4',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-animals_net-box-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'animals_net-box-4','ezslot_5',115,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-animals_net-box-4-0_1'); .box-4-multi-115{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}For the most part they prefer aquatic habitats with slow-moving water and plenty of aquatic vegetation to attract prey and provide hiding places. An Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases venom is potent and can be deadly to humans Esox. 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