Stats

Lifespan: 10-20 yrs
Size: Large
Diet: Carnivore
Activity: Cathemeral
Social: Solitary
Biome: Freshwater wetland
Range: North America
Movement: Slithering
Breeding: Live Birth
Defense: Venom
Status: Common

About

A stout, semi-aquatic pit viper of the southeastern United States, the Northern Cottonmouth is named for the startling white lining of its mouth, which it flashes wide open as a warning display when threatened. It is one of the few venomous snakes that swims with its whole body buoyant on the water's surface rather than submerged.

Life cycle

1.
hatchling
A miniature snake emerges from the egg or from its mother (live-bearers), already venomous or strong-coiled in some species.
2.
juvenile
A juvenile sheds its skin, grows quickly, and hunts smaller prey than the adults.
3.
adult
Fully grown at adult length and pattern.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Agkistrodon
Species: Agkistrodon piscivorus