There are three subspecies within this species. Their heads are also much larger than the normal water snake and they have a diamond like shape that almost seems like a large block.
Water Moccasin Water Moccasin Snake Snake Snake Art
Since the number of non poisonous water snake species outnumber water moccasins its easy to confuse the two snakes because of similarities in coloring and habitats.
Water moccasin texas water snake identification. A harmless snake the same length would be much more slender and would have a much longer thinner tail see below. Learn which water snakes in texas are poisonous and which varieties are non venomous. 20 30 inches.
The easiest way to identify the water moccasin from a non venomous water snake is to check its head. When threatened it may respond by coiling its body and displaying its fangs. The water moccasin or cottonmouth is a venomous pit viper snake species found in southeastern parts of the united states.
The water moccasin is the largest species of the genus agkistrodon. If any pattern exists it is usually a poorly defined lateral banding. These include florida cottonmouth which is found in florida and parts of georgia.
The water moccasin has a brownish color but this will also go darker as they age morethey are known for their thick bodies and shorter tails compared to the slender water snake. Where the non venomous snakes have round pupils texas water moccasins sport the typical elliptical pupils found in venomous species. Agkistrodon piscivorus is a venomous snake a species of pit viper in the subfamily crotalinae of the family viperidaethe species is endemic to the southeastern united statesas an adult it is large and capable of delivering a painful and potentially fatal bite.
Blotched water snake photo terry hibbitts diamondback water snake photo terry hibbitts cottonmouth water moccasin agkistrodon piscivorous identification. Finally did you see the snake swimming with its entire body above water. In most cases every dark colored snake encountered in these realms is labeled a water moccasin or cottonmouth in reality the vast majority are simply nonvenomous watersnakes or even other species such as the hognose snake.
Although its aggression has been exaggerated. Adult cottonmouths are usually dull in color dark gray brown or even black. The pupils are another giveaway but that may bring you too close to a water moccasin bite.
Find out how to tell the difference between a water snake and a water moccasin and what a yellow bellied water snake black water snake blotched water snake and a broad banded water snake look like. The body of this young venomous water moccasin is very thick for its length and has a relatively short thick tail. Notice that the head is also thick and blocky.
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