Cottonmouth, Cottonmouth Moccasin or Water Moccasin
The Cottonmouth (which used to be called Cottonmouth Moccasin or Water Moccasin) is a venomous semi-aquatic snake. It is one of the five species of pit viper that inhabits Louisiana. It is also the only semi-aquatic viper in the world. The name, Cottonmouth, comes from the way the inside of the mouth is white and looks like cotton. When cornered, they open their mouth to display the "cotton" as a defense mechanism, but they would rather just be left alone.
Agkistrodon piscivorus
Cottonmouths are found all over the state of Louisiana in every permanent or temporary aquatic habitat. Their primary prey is fish that are small enough to be eaten whole, but they also eat frogs, non-poisonous snakes, birds, squirrels and other rodents.
Female Cottonmouths ovulate during May and give birth during August.
The photo below shows two of the five species of the family Viperidae in Louisiana.
C. Copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix
D. Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus
reference: Dundee, Harold A. and Douglas A. Rossman, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana
The Cottonmouth is the only semi-aquatic viper in the world.
Cottonmouth Water Moccasin Facts
:Common names: cottonmouth, water moccasin, black moccasin, black snake,Wright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates. (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. ISBN 0-8014-0463-0. more.
Agkistrodon piscivorus is a venomous pitviper species found in the eastern United States. Adults are large and capable of delivering a painful and potentially fatal bite, but their reputation for aggression is largely undeserved. This is the world's only semiaquatic viper, usually being found in or near water, particularly in slow-moving and shallow lakes and streams. The snake is a strong swimmer and will even enter the sea, successfully colonizing islands off both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Many of the common names refer to the fact that, when threatened, this species will often stand its ground and gape at an intruder, exposing the white lining of its mouth.
The diet consists mainly of fish and frogs, but is otherwise highly varied and, uniquely, has even been reported to include carrion. The specific name is derived from the Latin words piscis and voro, which mean "fish" and "to eat". Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.
Cottonmouth Coiled and Ready
Venomous Snakes of the Southeast
Venomous Snakes Of The Southeast
Amazon Price: $10.75 (as of 01/09/2009)
Rio Saves the Day
This Cottonmouth was silently making its way to a little beach by the Tchefuncte River, where Al and I and our two dogs, Rio and Chance were peacefully sitting, enjoying the beautiful day. We would have never know the snake was there if it had not been for Rio. All of a sudden he got up and gave a quick bark, while he did a fake lunge and withdraw move at the snake. The snake promptly turned around and slid back into the water while Rio continued to patrol the little beach I got this shot of the Cottonmouth. Cottonmouths
Cottonmouths (Fangs! An Imagination Library Series)
Amazon Price: $22.60 (as of 01/09/2009)
Water Moccasin
Snakes of the Southeast
Snakes Of The Southeast (Wormsloe Foundation Nature Book)
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 01/09/2009)
Cottonmouths on Amazon
DO NOT Try This at Home!
You should never try to pick up a Cottonmouth.
Most of bites from Cottonmouths occur when someone is either trying to pick one up or when they are accidentally stepped upon. Having said that, let me say that my husband doesn't always listen to me and he has been handling snakes (both poisonous and non-poisonous) since he was quite young. He is an experienced snake handler and always takes the proper precautions when removing a poisonous snake from an inhabited area.
Because of the population explosion of song birds this year, this Cottonmouth was making its home around our bird feeders near the house and had already killed a young Cardinal and a young Blue Jay. So one morning, the opportunity to capture and move the snake presented itself. My husband released it a mile away in an unpopulated area by the Tchefuncte River.
Cottonmouth Up Close
Close-Up of a Cottonmouth, Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana Art Photographic Poster Print by Momatiuk & Eastcott, 16x12
Amazon Price: $39.99 (as of 01/09/2009)
Cottonmouth YouTube Video
Herping with Dylan
Herping with Dylan: Cottonmouths on the Road
Trip to Snake road where we saw lots of cottonmouths. (re-edited for video quality)
Runtime: 4:25
14562 views
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Cottonmouth Book
Cottonmouths (Animals & the Environment.)
Amazon Price: $23.93 (as of 01/09/2009)
Cottonmouths on Zazzle
Snakes on eBay
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Snakes of the U.S. and Canada
Snakes of the United States and Canada
Amazon Price: $64.63 (as of 01/09/2009)
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Cottonmouth Photos
Two Juvinile Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus); SC.
A venomous cottonmouth (aka: water moccasin) snake shows off his white mouth lin...
A cottonmouth rests by a path waiting for some food. Also known as a water mocc...
I think I have this snake's attention. Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus. Than...
A juvenile Florida Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin) smiling for the camera in a swam...
Florida Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus photographed 18 Ju...
A young cottonmouth in the Florida Everglades.
I got this shot in the Big Cypress preserve a couple of years ago. I love the po...
Western Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma Kisatch...
Western Cottonmouth. Union County, Illinois.
Juvenile Western Cottonmouth. Union Co. Illinois.
Klepto: The link I owe you
Cottonmouth Blog Posts
- Reptiles native to Potapsco park. - talk | baltimoresun.com
- Fact - The eastern cottonmouth (water moccasin) does not occur in the state of Maryland. Water moccasins can be found in the lower southeastern portion of Virginia. The most likely water snake you will see in Maryland is the Northern ...
- Spread The Word
- The water moccasin, the copperhead and the cottonmouth belong to the same poisonous family as the rattlesnake; they are highly poisonous snakes too that would surely mark the days of anyone who gets bitten. Stressful incidents involving ...
- Green. Spartan. Life.: Rat snake? Water Moccasin?
- My father believes that it is a Water Moccasin aka Cottonmouth - I hadn't thought of that simply because it was on dry land. (Although you know how wet it can get out here!) He also says it's probably not dirty but moulting. ...
- The Daily Growler: Power Playin' Snakes in the Grass
- Out where I was born on the lone prairie, there were snakes--from garter snakes up to serpents (the poisonous ones: the copperheads, the water moccasins (cottonmouths), the corals (little docile creatures that seldom bit anybody though ...
Let's Strike up a Conversation!
ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...
Welcome to the Totally Awesome Lenses Group.
Lizzy
Posted October 25, 2008
ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...
The Cottonmouth is fairly common around here. Snakes are an important part of the ecosystem and I respect that. I just wish they would stay out of my garage.
Great lens
Lizzy
Posted October 25, 2008
rio1 wrote...
An informative and exciting lens. A great message of "live & let live". Good job
Posted September 15, 2008
Links to Cottonmouth Moccasins
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