Stats

Lifespan

15-18 yrs

Size

Medium

Diet

Carnivore

Activity

Cathemeral

Social

Solitary

Biome

Temperate forest

Range

North America

Movement

Slithering

Breeding

Live Birth

Defense

Camouflage, Venom

Status

Common

About

The copperhead is a pit viper that dwells in the forests of Eastern North America. It uses heat-sensing pits near its nostrils to detect prey in total darkness.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling

   A miniature snake emerges from the egg or from its mother (live-bearers), already venomous or strong-coiled in some species.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile sheds its skin, grows quickly, and hunts smaller prey than the adults.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult length and pattern.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Reptilia

Order

Squamata

Family

Viperidae

Genus

Agkistrodon

Species

Agkistrodon contortrix