The snake is a strong swimmer and has even been seen swimming in the ocean. However, it is not fully marine, unlike true sea snakes. Young Water moccasins generally have a more contrasting color pattern than adults; they have dark crossbands on a lighter ground color.
The ground color is then tan, brown, or reddish-brown. The tip of their tail is usually yellowish, becoming greenish-yellow or greenish in subadults, and then black in adults. On some juveniles, the banding pattern can also be seen on the tail.
Young snakes often use their bright tail tips in hunting; they wiggle the tips of their tails to lure prey animals. References 1. Included in Lists Snakes of United States. Reptiles of United States. Related Animals Bamboo Pit Viper. Eyelash Viper. Nose-Horned Viper. Asp Viper. Stejneger's Pit Viper. White-Lipped Pit Viper.
Meadow Viper. Arctic Fox. Virginia Opossum. African Bush Elephant. Nile Crocodile. Scarlet Macaw. Winne, M. Dorcas, and J. Post-drought responses of semi-aquatic snakes inhabiting an isolated wetland: Insights on different strategies for persistence in a dynamic habitat.
Wetlands Glaudas, X. Andrews, J. Willson, and J. Migration patterns in a population of cottonmouths Agkistrodon piscivorus inhabiting an isolated wetland. Journal of Zoology Do cottonmouths Agkistrodon piscivorus habituate to human confrontations?
Southeastern Naturalist Do thermal cues influence the defensive strike of cottonmouths Agkistrodon piscivorus? Amphibia-Reptilia 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.
Water snake pupils are round, not vertical and cat-like like the pupils of cottonmouths. Water snakes also lack the facial pits that are characteristic of pit vipers, such as cottonmouths. Source: ITIS. When threatened, nonvenomous water snakes, such as northern water snakes Nerodia sipedon and southern water snakes Nerodia fasciata , often try to appear bigger than they are by flattening their bodies and heads. This flattening makes them look more like cottonmouths.
A water snake's flattened head will look more triangular in shape, but not blocky and thick, like a cottonmouth's head. A water snake's head will also still be a similar width to the neck, even when flattened. The University of Florida stated that trying to kill a snake greatly increases the risk of being bitten by one.
Juvenile cottonmouths have more distinctive bands across their bodies and are lighter brown compared with adult cottonmouths. Juveniles also have bright-yellow tail tips that they use as lure to attract prey. The striking patterns present on the juveniles fades with age. Cottonmouths are native to the U. They primarily live in aquatic and wetland habitats, including swamps, marshes, drainage ditches, ponds, lakes and streams. The Savannah River Ecology Laboratory noted that cottonmouths can be seen year-round during the day and at night, but they primarily hunt after dark, especially in the summer.
They can be found basking in the sun during the day on rocks, logs and stumps, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Identifying the different subspecies is difficult. Their markings vary considerably, and the subspecies can interbreed where their ranges overlap. Cottonmouths are preyed upon by other snakes and humans. Females reach sexual maturity at three years; males at two years. Mating occurs in the spring. Like other pit vipers, cottonmouths do not lay eggs. Instead the eggs are kept inside the female's body until the eggs are ready to "hatch.
Cottonmouths are born from early August until early October. Females bear only three to 12 offspring per litter. Newborn cottonmouths are 6 to 11 inches They have brownish or reddish bodies with lines that are wide on the sides and narrow across the back.
Cottonmouths are born with yellow or greenish-gray tail tips and come complete with functional fangs and a full supply of venom.
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