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Genus: Agkistrodon Scales: Keeled Anal Plate: Single Western Cottonmouths are probably the most feared snake in East Texas, and they should be because they are fairly common and are venomous. Because of this, many harmless watersnake are often misidentified as cottonmouths and are killed. Unlike water snakes (genus Nerodia), Cottonmouths will often stand their ground and open their mouths at their attacker, while most water snakes will make a quick escape. Cottonmouths usually grow to a length of two and half to three feet in length. This subspecies is found througout North, Central and East Texas. Its also found in Eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Southern Missouri, West Virginia, Western half of Tennessee and most of Mississippi. Cottonmouths feed on fish, other reptiles, amphibians and small mammals. Young Cottonmouths look very much like copperheads, but they have a dark band behind their eyes. The young also have a yellow tail that they use to a lure frogs into striking distance. As cottonmouths ages, they tend to lose their pattern and become darker. Like all native pit vipers, cottonmouths bear live young. Their venom is much stronger than Copperheads. Proper snake handling tools must be use when handling this species, and they should only handled by experienced snake handlers. |
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