Eastern Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus
*** VENOMOUS ***
Cottonmouth look-a-likes :: Copperhead look-a-likes
| Common Name: | Eastern Cottonmouth |
| Scientific Name: | Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus |
| Etymology: | |
| Genus: | Agkistrodon is derived from the Greek word ancistron which means "fishhook".
This is in reference to recurved fangs. |
| Species: | piscivorus is derived from the Latin words piscis which means "fish" and voro which means "to devour". |
| Vernacular Names: | Water moccasin, black moccasin, black
snake, blunt-tail moccasin, congo, copperhead, cottonmouth water
moccasin, cotton-mouthed snake, gapper, highland moccasin, lowland
moccasin, mangrove rattler, moccasin, water viper, rusty moccasin,
saltwater rattler, stub-tail, stump moccasin, stump-tail viper, swamp
lion. |
| Average Length: | 30-48 in. (76-122 cm) |
| Virginia Record Length: | 60.5 in. (153.6 cm) |
| Record length: | 74 in. (188 cm) |
Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service: Species Booklet
Photos:
*Click on a thumbnail for a larger version.
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| neonate with yellow tail tip | Adult - Virginia Beach | Adult - Virginia Beach | Adult - Virginia Beach | Adult - Virginia Beach | ||
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| cottonmouth vs northern water snake | cottonmouth skull (top) vs. eastern ratsnake snake skull (bottom) | Adult - Virginia Beach | Adult - Virginia Beach | Adult - Virginia Beach | Adult - Virginia Beach |
