Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) are venomous snakes that inhabit the Eastern and Central United States. But could you pick one out of a lineup of venomous snakes? If the answer is no, then read on to learn what a copperhead snake looks like. Plus, discover why baby copperhead snakes have bright yellow tails.
Copperhead: Physical Characteristics
An adult copperhead snake measures two to three feet long, but some can grow to four feet.
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The copperhead takes its name from its copper-colored head. The copperhead’s scales display tan and dark brown markings, each shaped like a sideways hourglass. These hourglass patterns run down the length of the body but fade as they reach the snake’s belly, giving the impression of chocolate kisses.
An adult copperhead snake measures two to three feet long, but some can grow to four feet. The snake’s triangular, or spade-shaped head, is another identifying characteristic. Copperheads have a loreal pit, an external heat-sensing organ, on each side of their snout, which is sometimes mistaken for a nostril. Snakes with these organs are called pit vipers.
These pits allow a snake to sense the heat from warm-blooded animals nearby. The loreal pits help copperheads and other pit vipers to determine the size of the warm-blooded animal, which increases the odds of a successful strike, even in the dark. Copperheads also use their tongues to sense chemical cues in their environment.
Copperheads have yellow eyes with black, vertical pupils. These vertical pupils are an adaptation that helps copperheads see better in low lighting, although their overall vision is limited compared to mammals; they rely more on their heat-sensing pits and sense of smell to detect prey.
Juvenile Copperheads Have a Yellow Tail
This unsuspecting frog is about to become a meal for this juvenile copperhead.
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You can identify a juvenile copperhead snake by looking at its tail. Juveniles have bright yellow tails! This bright yellow-tipped tail is used by the snake to attract frogs or lizards. A frog, lizard, or other prey animal may mistake the yellow tail for an insect or worm. When the prey attempts to grab the ‘insect’, the snake quickly strikes and captures it. Think of the bright yellow tail on a baby copperhead snake as a baited hook on the end of a fishing line.
After shedding its skin a few times, a juvenile copperhead’s yellow tail gradually turns brown, matching the tail of an adult.
Snakes Mistaken for Copperheads
Northern watersnakes are sometimes misidentified as copperheads.
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While copperheads have a distinctive color pattern, other snakes look similar. Corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) have similar scale patterns, though the corn snake’s scales are red or orange and tan. Northern water snakes (Nerodia sipedon) can be mistaken for copperheads, due to their alternating light/dark scale patterns. However, there are subtle differences that can help distinguish these snakes from copperheads, including their round pupils and slender heads.
