Cottonmouth

The cottonmouth snake (also known as a water moccasin) is a highly venomous pit viper that spends most of its life near the water.

Cottonmouths are considered to be one of the few semi-aquatic snakes in the world. They can sometimes be seen swimming in both freshwater and saltwater areas. There are generally two species: the northern cottonmouth snake and the Florida cottonmouth.

This article will cover some interesting facts about the identification, habitat, diet, lifespan, and size of both species.

What’s the difference between a cottonmouth snake vs. a water moccasin?

There is no difference. They are simply two different names for the exact same species.

5 Cottonmouth Amazing Facts

• The cottonmouth goes by many different names, including water moccasin, swamp moccasin, rusty moccasin, and black moccasin. A moccasin is essentially a type of shoe or slipper made from leather.
• The cottonmouth snake can choose to mate at any time throughout the entire year, but its reproductive season usually takes place in April and May. In order to attract a mate, the male cottonmouth will perform a combat dance in which he slithers back and forth and waves his tail. Males will also fight each other for access to females. Cottonmouths are thought to be monogamous.
• Females will give birth to an average of five to nine live young at a time (16 is usually the maximum number) after a gestation period of five months. However, because of predators, only two or three young will usually make it to adulthood. It takes about three years for a female to reach full sexual maturity (the sexual maturity of the male is unknown). If they survive, then they have a typical lifespan of 20 to 25 years.
• The predators of juvenile or baby cottonmouth snakes include eagles, egrets, raccoons, longnose gars, largemouth bass, and snapping turtles. Adult cottonmouths, by contrast, have very few predators.
• Female cottonmouth snakes are capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction. This means they can produce young in the absence of males (although at the cost of genetic diversity).

Where to Find Them

Cottonmouths can be found all year round in many aquatic locations, including cypress swamps, river floodplains, lakes, bays, and wetlands, throughout the southeastern United States.

Their range extends all the way up to southern Illinois and west to Texas; there is also a bit of overlap in Florida between the northern cottonmouth and the Florida cottonmouth.

They like to spend their days basking near logs, rocks, and branches close to the location of the water’s edge. The size of the cottonmouth snake’s territory depends on its physical size and sex (males tend to have larger home ranges).

Scientific Name

The scientific name of the northern cottonmouth is Agkistrodon piscivorus, whereas the Florida cottonmouth is called Agkistrodon conanti. The genus name Agkistrodon essentially means hook tooth (or a tooth like a fishhook) in reference to the shape of the fangs.

The species name piscivorus essentially means fish devourer or fish eater, whereas conanti is named in honor of noted herpetologist Roger Conant.

The northern vs. Florida cottonmouth distinction only came about in 2015. Before then, there used to be three subspecies recognized: the eastern, western, and Florida cottonmouths. However, based on DNA analysis, it was determined to make the Florida cottonmouth snake its own species and eliminate the eastern/western distinction entirely.

That leaves us with two species, the Florida and northern cottonmouths, and no subspecies. Both of these species are closely related to copperheads and the cantils in the same genus of Agkistrodon.

Types of Cottonmouth

There are two main varieties of cottonmouths. The differences between them in terms of appearance and habits are minimal; however, Northern Cottonmouths have darker scales.

• Northern Cottonmouth – Eastern Cottonmouths can be found in the southeast United States.
• Florida Cottonmouth – Florida Cottonmouths are found in the midwest United States.

History and Evolution

The Cottonmouth is well-known in the United States for its powerful venom and, most notably, the stark white inside of its mouth. That is where this snake got its name to match the color of cotton.

These reptiles also stand out from other aquatic snakes by the way they swim through water. Cottonmouths glide on top of rivers and lakes with their heads held high as they cruise along. While they tend to keep their head above water, they have evolved the ability to strike while underwater.

Another evolution of this snake is its hemotoxic venom. This type of venom prevents clotting from a wound from a Cottonmouth’s bite, and it also destroys its victim’s red blood cells.

A myth about these snakes, which is not to be believed, is that one could fall into a pit of Cottonmouths and suffer deadly attacks. One may recall this happening to a cowboy in the Lonesome Dove miniseries. This is a falsity because these snakes are actually solitary in nature.

Population and Conservation Status

According to the IUCN Red List, the snake is a species of least concern. While we don’t have enough facts about population numbers to make a proper estimate, this species does appear to be fairly common throughout most of its natural range. However, the loss of wetlands habitats throughout the southern United States does pose a danger to certain cottonmouth populations.

How to Identify Them: Appearance and Description

The adult can reach anywhere between 2 feet and 6 feet long with the largest cottonmouth ever recorded measuring 74 inches in length.

Males are typically longer and heavier, with more scales on the tail than their female counterparts. This should make the identification of the sexes easier. The cottonmouth snake is characterized by a large, spade-shaped head, bright white mouths, and alternating bands of light and dark patterns.

Black, brown, and olive are the most common colors; they help the snake blend in against the surrounding environment. Juveniles and babies are also fairly distinctive from adults. They have even stronger contrasting bands of colors; the tip of the tail is sometimes yellow or greenish as well.

How to identify the snake:

• Large spade-shaped head.
• Long, thick, muscular body measuring up to 6 feet in size.
• Black, brown, and olive colors alternating in light and dark bands.
• Bright white mouths.

You can read further about the types of cottonmouth snakes.

How Dangerous Are They?

These snakes have highly potent venom that destroys the tissue and causes significant swelling and pain. It is generally more dangerous than the copperhead venom but less so than the rattlesnake. The venom will sometimes leave behind permanent scars and very rarely necessitates an amputation, but it is almost never fatal even in the absence of treatment.

Nevertheless, you should still seek medical attention immediately after a bite. The antivenom is highly effective at minimizing the effects of the toxin.

Behavior and Humans

Cottonmouths are widespread throughout the South, and encounters with them are fairly common. Although quite dangerous in theory, cottonmouths tend not to bite humans very often in practice. They would rather run away and flee.

Before striking, the snake will give a warning signal by shakings its tail, opening its mouth, and raising its head above the ground. Cottonmouth snakes also have the ability to release a pungent, foul-smelling musk to deter potential threats.

Even if one did happen to bite you, however, they deliberately release less venom in a defensive bite than an offensive one against their prey.