Alternate name: Water Moccasin Family: Viperidae, Pit Vipers
view all from this family Description Thick, heavy body. Brown,
olive to grayish/black. Flat-topped head. Vertical pupils on
eyes. Juveniles have a strong pattern. Keeled scales in rows of
25. Dimensions 50.8-189.2cm. (20-74 1/2") Warning Do not disturb
or attempt to handle! The Cottonmouth's bite is far more serious
than that of the Copperhead and can be fatal. When annoyed, the
Cottonmouth tends to stand its ground and may gape repeatedly at
an intruder, exposing the light "cotton" lining of its mouth.
Cottonmouths, Copperheads, and rattlesnakes belong to a group of
snakes known as pit vipers. These dangerous snakes have a heat-
sensitive sensory organ on each side of the head that enables
them to locate warm-blooded prey and strike accurately, even in
the dark. The curved, hollow fangs are normally folded back
along the jaw. When a pit viper strikes, the fangs rapidly swing
forward and fill with venom as the mouth opens. The venom is a
complex mix