snake inhabiting lowland habitats in southeastern Virginia. 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. Male Northern Cottonmouths are known to perform Range: Most of Virginia, excluding the counties of Tazewell, Wythe, Grayson, and Campbell. Confusing Species: This species is very often Juveniles have the same patterns as adults but are brighter, have more distinct crossbands, body color may be more pinkish, and the tip of the tail is yellow. When it opens its mouth, the distinctive white interior is displayed. Copperheads have five subspecies: the northern, northwestern, southern, broad-banded and Osage. snakes there would be a drastic increase in crop/food damage and rodent spread However, its habitat continues The pattern darkens with age so adults may become uniformly black. This is a large, venomous, semi-aquatic snake. Virginia: 1. This group is The cottonmouth moccasin's venom can kill you. white, red and yellow. Range and Habitat: Cottonmouths range throughout . Located in the southeastern region of the US, Virginia is known for its vast and diverse habitats. brighter, with more-conspicuous crossbands. Instead, cottonmouths only occur in the southeastern corner, with most populations living south of the James River. It is often found in cultivated fields adjacent to swamp or sluggish streams. partially confirmed previous mitochondrial hypotheses (Guiher and Burbrink 2008, Mol. Using multi-locus nuclear data, Burbrink and Guiher (2015, Zool. on Zoological Nomenclature (1987). They range in color from dark green to black and have several darker hourglass bands across their backs. Some Northern Watersnakes can be a Anyone who suffers a cottonmouth bite should seek medical attention immediately. Females give birth to live young every two to three years, in litters of about 10 to 20 offspring. Both sexes had a similar average number of body bands (males 13.3 1.9, 170-181, n = 60). They're called cottonmouths because of the white coloration on the inside of their mouths, which they display when threatened. round pupils and lack the heat sensing pits. They are heavy bodied snakes that can reach over 70 inches in length, but typically are between 36 and 48 inches. While cottonmouths are venomous they are placid snakes that only bite if 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). chunky, dark brown, olive, or black dorsally, and brown laterally; chin and infralabials subcaudal scales along the entire tail, no facial pit, no vertical pupil, and no fangs. A water moccasin eats a bullfrog. 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. Here are some identifying features of cottonmouths: Full-grown snakes range anywhere from above 24 inches up to 36 inches in length. affecting survivorship and procurement of resources for reproduction, as well as loss of However, the temperament of these snakes is exaggerated, and they bite only when they feel threatened. The cottonmouth or water moccasin, Agkistrodon piscivorus, is a semi-aquatic pit viper found throughout the southeastern United States and into east Texas. Northern Cottonmouth. Venomous Snake And, unlike other water snakes, it swims with its head well out of the water. Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), the Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon (ave. = 176.8 2.8, n = 137); dorsal scales strongly keeled, scale rows 25 at midbody; anal plate However, if we look only at the known range of the cottonmouth, then the total percentage rises to 7.3%. especially in warm months. 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. The historical reference, Lacepede (1788-1789), in which the specific name piscivorus was Although most venomous snakes are harmful to humans, just how much of a threat they pose comes down to which type of venom they contain and how much venom they can inject per bite (venom yield). . 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). In this ruling, however, the ICZN also placed the name Tail length/total length was similar in both ), Green I notifies other animals including humans of its presence. It grows to average lengths of 30-48 in. masseter muscle and each is connected to the fang by a hollow duct. Sub adults and hatchlings are lighter in color, with more dramatically visible banding and patterns. humans, unlike other snakes. anal plate (vent). . Excellent pit viper anti-venom (effective for rattlesnake, cottonmouth, and copperheads) are readily available in most areas of the U.S. Advertisement. They may stand their ground against potential predators, including humans, by using defensive behaviors. Neonates were 221-237 mm SVL (ave. = 227.9 inject it, evolved for the purpose of prey capture, but it is sometimes used as a defensive Cottonmouths may also make themselves stink to deter predators by spraying a foul-smelling musk from glands in the base of their tail, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History (opens in new tab). maximum total length is 1,536 mm (60.5 inches). Water snakes are slender compared with cottonmouths, which are thicker and heavier. Southampton County, 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. No deaths have In Missouri, for example, all snakes are protected from being killed, including cottonmouths, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (opens in new tab). [1] Where Does Cottonmouth Come From? However, if youre out exploring, its important to take care as there are 32 snakes in the state, with three being venomous. The stunning Chesapeake Bay, the Shenandoah Valley, and numerous rivers, mountains, and forests, there is something there for everyone to explore. * Click on a thumbnail to see a larger version. depending on their size and age. Geographic Range. snake species (Eastern Copperhead, Northern Cottonmouth and Timber Rattlesnake). Synonyms and Other Names: water moccasin, swamp moccasin, black moccasin, gaper. 173: 505526) Common name: Cottonmouth. Known birth dates are 1-15 The "pit" A water snake's head will also still be a similar width to the neck, even when flattened. yellowish olive to black with about 13 black crossbands that are wide on the sides and narrow as The habitat of cottonmouths range from Virginia down to sunny Florida. Missouri is the northwestern limit of this species. Cottonmouths are semiaquatic, so they're comfortable both swimming in water (hence their other common name of water moccasin) and basking on land. Geographic Variation: There is no apparent Baby cottonmouths are born brightly colored and go off on their own as soon as they're born. Every day A-Z Animals sends out some of the most incredible facts in the world from our free newsletter. Click to enlarge, Very Abundant State Wide Distribution and Population. In the United States, the Eastern Cottonmouth is found in the southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. ), catfish (lctalurus spp. Eastern cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus) are one of the three venomous snakes found in Virginia. This species is represented by 896 records from 39 sources: 577 museum (), 0 literature (), 0 research (), and 272 observation (), with 47 additional Trauth et al. Chesterfield County population. concur with Gloyd and Conant (1990), who strongly criticize the use of "moccasin" and "water Average litter size for pivotal role in controlling rodent populations. boards and other shelters. 1.8, n = 144); subcaudals 39-50 (ave. = 45.0 2.0, n = 137) and single, except for 6-35 Adult Size: Averages at 24 to 36 inches. Have some feedback for us? mechanical action of lowering the lower jaw. The water moccasin has three subspecies: the Florida cottonmouth, the eastern cottonmouth and the western cottonmouth. 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). Older adults may be uniformly dark. lateral blotches, as in Nerodia taxispilota. The cottonmouth has a shocking white interior to its mouth. The Eastern cottonmouth is restricted to Virginia . They live in virtually any freshwater wetland habitat such as rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, swamps, and even drainage ditches. How deadly is a cottonmouth snake? Virginia Herpetological Of the three species, the northern watersnake is by far the most misidentified as a . Of these, only 1% are attributed to cottonmouths. When annoyed it tends to stand its . This species is generally not aggressive, but will not hesitate to strike if molested. 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? diseases. "Exposing the white of the mouth serves as a warning signal to potential predators.". That left the other two subspecies to become simply the northern cottonmouth. The largest cottonmouth on record was just over 74 inches, and it was found "in the Dismal Swamp region near the Virginia-North Carolina line," according to the Virginia Herpetological Society. of 9-12 (6.7%); supralabials 7/7 (25.4%, n = 118), 8/8 (42.4%), 7/8 (27.1%), or combinations Experts don't really know how long cottonmouths can live. Virginia is the home to 34 types of snakes with only three venomous species. (Hamilton and Pollack, 1955; Bothner, 1974; Brown, 1979; Collins, 1980). J. Linn. Vipers possess a pair of hollow It is a semi-aquatic snake and can be found . Though individuals may reach up to 6 ft. in length, their average size is closer to approximately 3 ft. long. Cottonmouths rarely bite humans unless they are picked up or stepped on. Northern Cottonmouth. Rare green comet not seen since the Stone Age will zoom overhead tonight. Female 1990). A moderately-sized snake, most copperheads are less than 36 inches with larger . Sussex County, The northern water snake can be identified by observing that the crossbands near the head of the snake do not widen at the ends. Venom glands lie behind the eyes under the frequently misidentified as "cottonmouths". Agkistrodon piscivorus is a species of pit viper in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. But they are opportunistic and will also eat small mammals, birds, turtles, small alligators, and other snakes. inner white lining is not an aggressive action, it simply makes the cottonmouth more visible. The seasonal activity period based on museum records is 28 ), large-mouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), Snapping The cottonmouth is the only semiaquatic pit viper in the world. They primarily live in slow-moving streams, wetlands, swamps, marshes, and ponds. Hibernation. Other prey recorded from the eastern part of the range are redfin Copperheads are the most commonly seen venomous snakes in Virginia. Even when they are not in the water, they rarely stray far from it most often spotted basking on logs or rocks nearby, where they can easily flee to the safety of the water if they are disturbed. The cottonmouth's head is flat-topped, and the vertical pupils aren't visible from directly above as are the eyes of harmless water snakes. Timber Rattlesnakes stick to the more mountainous regions of the state while Cottonmouths spend time in wetlands in Southern Virginia. Despite this, the chance of dying from a cottonmouth bite is still pretty low on average. grassland habitats adjacent to wet areas, as well as around permanent and semipermanent Its primary range is along the Eastern Seaboard as far north as New York and inland as far west as Nebraska. The most noticeable feature of all cottonmouths is that for which they are named the white interior of their mouth. The back (dorsum) of a Cottonmouth varies in color from olive to . 2023 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. The smallest piscivorus on the Official List of Specific Names in Zoology, "notwithstanding that it was [2] . Juveniles also have bright-yellow tail tips that they use as lure to attract prey. Additionally, its not just adult cottonmouths that you need to watch out for, as juveniles still contain a lot of venom too. This mechanism "cotton mouth" was first used in the scientific literature by Holbrook (1838a, 1842). Live Science, Available here: https://www.livescience.com/43597-facts-about-water-moccasin-cottonmouth-snakes.html#:~:text=%22Like%20all%20pit%20vipers%2C%20%5B,which%20is%20often%20potential%20prey. measure. These ambush predators will feed on a wide variety of prey, but the vast majority of their diet consists of small fish and frogs. 1990). 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. They are generally dark above - olive, brown, or black. In contrast, the water moccasins with the scientific name agkistrodon piscivorus are also venomous snakes. A western cottonmouth snake coiled up and displaying its white mouth. [5] As an adult, it is large and capable of delivering a painful and potentially fatal bite. The distribution of the Florida Cottonmouth extends from southern Florida to approximately Savannah, Georgia, and west to south-eastern Alabama (Fig. otters (Lutra canadensis), dogs, and free-ranging domestic cats (Ernst and Barbour, 1989b; Juvenile cottonmouths have more distinctive bands across their bodies and are lighter brown compared with adult cottonmouths. In Virginia, maximum known snout-vent length (SVL) is 1,340 mm (52.8 inches) and The cottonmouth has a limited range in Missouri. family status, the Crotalidae. Juvenile Brown watersnakes are patterned the same as adults. The name "cottonmouth" refers to the manner in which the cottonmouth Around 8,000 bites are poisonous, resulting in an average of 12 deaths each year. These snakes are also known as water moccasins. Bite Information || Cottonmouth look-a-likes || Copperhead look-a-likes. 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). (Image credit: Paul S. Wolf/Shutterstock.com), (Image credit: Shelby L Earle/Shutterstock.com), International Union for Conservation of Nature, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Guide to Venomous Snakes and Their Mimics, Ancient bird with T. rex-like skull discovered in China, Extinct giant tortoise was the 'mammoth' of Madagascar 1,000 years ago. 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