Cottonmouth Moccasin Snake

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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 

The Cottonmouth (also called Cottonmouth Moccasin and Water Moccasin) is a member of the Viper family. It is a heavy bodied, dark brown or black snake with a pattern of broad dark cross bands, which usually grow darker with age. The belly is brown and is heavily blotched with black. There is a deep pit in the side of the head between the eye and the nostril and a broad dark line from the eye to the angle of the jaw. Juveniles have a sulfur yellow tip on their tails with bright, clear patterned markings that look more like it's relative, the Copperhead.

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

copperhead & cotton mouth water moccasin

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 from Wiki 

Agkistrodon piscivorus is a venomous snake, a species of pitviper, 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. The common names for the species include variants on water, swamp or black 'moccasin','viper', 'cottonmouth' and 'rattler'.Wright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates. (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. ISBN 0-8014-0463-0. 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 07/05/2009)Buy Now

Rio Saves the Day 

IMG_0279This 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 07/05/2009)Buy Now

Juvenile Cottonmouth 

Because of their bright color, juvenile Cottonmouth snakes are often confused with Copperheads. One distinguishing feature is the yellow tip of the tail. This snake will darken as it ages and it will loose the yellow tip.



Juvenile Cottonmouth Snake postcard
Buy Juvenile Cottonmouth Snake by eaglelady1

Snakes of the Southeast 

Snakes Of The Southeast (Wormsloe Foundation Nature Book)

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/05/2009)Buy Now

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 Moccasin being held

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
18707 views
10 Comments:

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Chance the Cocker Spaniel is a Hero 


Our maladjusted, rescued Cocker Spaniel is a hero. One morning, on our walk to the Tchefuncte River we were going about our business as usual. Rio and I had spied a photo op along Pruden Creek and were focused on finding the bird that we had just seen fly into the trees. Al was filling up the bird feeder and Chance was sniffing around about 3 feet behind us. All of a sudden I heard a scuffle and turned to see Chance whipping his head back and forth with a Cottonmouth hanging from his throat. I called for Al and stepped towards Chance. Just as I reached him, the snake flew off and hit the ground wiggling to get away. I was able to get a leash on Chance, but he was so enraged that he pulled me towards the Cottonmouth. Al herded the snake away from us and it escaped into a hole. When Chance settled down enough for me to look at his neck, I saw drops of watery blood.

Long ago, our vet told us that dogs don't react to snake bites as violently as humans. Usually a Benadryl tablet taken within an hour of the bite is sufficient treatment for dogs, unless the snake is very large or the bite is in the throat area. Since this bite was on the throat, Chance had to go to his least favorite place in the world, the Vet's office. He was surprisingly calm as Dr. Rusty shaved his neck and gave him injections and we were told to watch the wound for infection. If Chance hadn't scratched it so much, he would have been fine, but a hot spot developed that required more treatment. Eventually the wound healed and Chance is fine now. In fact, the ordeal seems to have tempered him a little and he seems to trust us a little more.

I certainly have a special feeling for him. Chance saved me from a painful and life-threatening bite and I will forever be in the little fellow's debt.

Cottonmouth Book 

Cottonmouths (Animals & the Environment.)

Amazon Price: $18.67 (as of 07/05/2009)Buy Now

Cottonmouth Preparing to Shed 

Snakes of the U.S. and Canada 

Snakes of the United States and Canada

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Cottonmouths on Zazzle 

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Cottonmouth Photos 

Cottonmouths by Nathan Shepard

Two Juvinile Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus); SC.

Agitated Cottonmouth by zormsk

A venomous cottonmouth (aka: water moccasin) snake shows off his white mouth lin...

Cottonmouth  -  Jean Lafitte National Park by larry daugherty

A cottonmouth rests by a path waiting for some food. Also known as a water mocc...

Peek-a-boo - Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus by theroguerook

I think I have this snake's attention. Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus. Than...

Cottonmouth by Paul-G

A juvenile Florida Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin) smiling for the camera in a swam...

Florida Cottonmouth by TomSpinker

Florida Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus photographed 18 Ju...

cottonmouth closeup by Rick Gomez

A young cottonmouth in the Florida Everglades.

young cottonmouth by Rick Gomez

I got this shot in the Big Cypress preserve a couple of years ago. I love the po...

Western Cottonmouth -- Louisiana by TomSpinker

Western Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma Kisatch...

Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma) by jdeboer152

Western Cottonmouth. Union County, Illinois.

Juvenile Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma) by jdeboer152

Juvenile Western Cottonmouth. Union Co. Illinois.

CottonMouth by ACreepingMalaise

Klepto: The link I owe you

Cottonmouth Blog Posts 

Snakes, Flip-Flops Don't Mix | NBC Dallas-Fort Worth
Daryl Sprout Today at 9:23 AM FLAG COMMENT The Cottonmouth Water moccasin is Agkistrodon piscivorus The Copperhead (a close relative but completely different snake) is Agkistrodon contortrix. Yes Susie said three venomous snakes but ...
Snake expert shares tips with first responders | HamptonRoads.com ...
During a presentation at the Navy's auxiliary landing field at Fentress, Bonavita introduced a group to some live samples of southeastern Virginia's three species of poisonous snakes - the copperhead, the water moccasin (cottonmouth) ...
JPG: Photos: "Cotton Mouth Water Moccasin" by Jeff Ore
At Brooker Creek Pereserve in Tarpon Springs Florida.
on how to catch a cottonmouth water moccasin
herbinhouston posted a photo: on how to catch a cottonmouth water moccasin. well this young gun says caution pays!

Let's Strike up a Conversation! 

aj2008 wrote...

I must admit I am glad we dont have that many poisonous snakes here in the UK. My son has had a few close encounters when he visits Malaysia & Thailand, but I would rather not know about it! Blessings!

ReplyPosted June 08, 2009

AbbasAbedi wrote...

Excellent Lens. 5*

If you get a chance check out my Instant Stress Management lens.

ReplyPosted June 07, 2009

Winter52 wrote...

My husband is fascinated with snakes... me they scare me silly. If I had come as close to this snake as you did, I think that I would have nightmares for a week. But I am going to bring what I now know about this snake during dinner tomorrow night. My husband will be impressed lol...

ReplyPosted June 05, 2009

ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...

Welcome to the Totally Awesome Lenses Group.
Lizzy

ReplyPosted 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

ReplyPosted October 25, 2008

 
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