Florida Cottonmouth

ANIMAL:
Florida Cottonmouth Agkistrodon conanti

Type of Animal:
Viper

Habitat:
Freshwater/brackish water: swamps, marshes, ditches, ponds, edges/shores of ponds/lakes/streams, streams, rivers, creeks, lakes, wetlands, coastal plains, floodplains, wet fields, rice fields, riparian zones, ponds/streams in offshore keys, brackish tidal estuaries, bayheads, sloughs, canals, & bayous. Sometimes found in saltwater areas in marshes & offshore keys. Hibernate/bask in land areas in upland areas, fields, agricultural areas near water, pine forests/woodlands, palmetto thickets, pine-palmetto forest, pine flatwoods, deciduous dune forest, dunes, beaches, riparian forest, & prairies.

Location(s):
S Georgia, SE Alabama, & Florida

Appearance:
Very similar appearance to closely related Northern Cottonmouth, lighter face markings than Northern Cottonmouth, 2 dark vertical lines on snout, dark snake w/ heavy body, younger snakes lighter in color w/ brighter tail tips (tail tips fade w/ age), whitish belly, named for white mouth, coloration ranges from dark brown to jet black to olive green,

Food/Diet:
Fish up to size of catfish, bass, & pike, amphibians, young crocodilians, turtles, young tortoises, lizards, other snakes (including smaller members of own species & other venomous species), birds up to size of great egrets (great egrets sometimes eat the snakes), mammals up to size of rabbits & muskrats, carrion, eggs, snails, as well as caterpillars, cicadas, & other insects

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding in zoos & reptile centers

Lifestyle:
Solitary

Additional Info:

Called:
Male
Female
Young: Snakelet
Group: Solitary
 
Weight:
Male: 4 lbs
Female: 3 lbs
 
Gestation:
3-4 months 

Life Span:
20 years

Body Length:
Male: 4-5 ft
Female: 3 ft
Young: 1 ft

Tail Length:
0.5-1 ft, same for both sexes 

Main predators of adults are crocodilians, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, raptors, bears, snapping turtles, dogs, cats, raccoons, opossums, feral pigs, large wading birds, cranes, shrikes, larger cottonmouths, kingsnakes, black racers, black ratsnakes, & largemouth bass (the latter 5 sometimes being eaten by cottonmouth in fights to death). Young preyed on by longnose gar & smaller egrets/herons.
 
Gives birth to 1-20 live young every 2-3 years.
 
These snakes also known as water moccasins.
 
These snakes most active at night.
 
Juveniles use tail tips to lure prey.
 
Sometimes hybridize w/ closely related Northern Cottonmouth.
 
These snakes are excellent swimmers.

Fun Fact(s):
Contrary to popular belief, these snakes are well capable of biting underwater.
 
These snakes not as aggressive as people say & retreat if given chance. They don’t chase people.
 
Get name from habit of opening white mouth when threatened.
 
Many nonvenomous water snakes mistaken for them & killed.
 
They have hemotoxic venom.

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