The cottonmouth is one of the most dangerous snakes in the United States. Highly venomous, this creature hunts ferociously and defends itself aggressively against enemies. The cottonmouth usually makes its home in rivers, lakes and streams and presents a hidden danger to any creature, even humans, who trespass in its territory.
Show Off: When threatened, the cottonmouth pulls its body into a tight coil and opens up its mouth. This displays the bright white inside of the snake's mouth, which gives the cottonmouth its name. The flash of white is used to startle an enemy.
Water Hazard: This deadly serpent is almost always found in swamps and waterways. It's also called the water moccasin; its dark, patterned scales (like an Indian moccasin decoration) help the snake stay hidden in murky waters.
Binge Eater[]
A cottonmouth flashes its white inner mouth as it prepares to strike.
The cottonmouth may go several weeks or even months without eating, but then satisfies its extreme hunger in a feeding frenzy. In early summer, the cottonmouth goes into shallow pools that were part of a lake or river that has dried up and eats up every last creature-then digs into the mud to find animals that are hiding. When a pool is emptied of prey, the cottonmouth slithers right on to the next one.
No Bluff: If a creature ignores the cottonmouth's open-mouthed warning to back off, the snake becomes aggressive and will charge at large enemies, even humans, with intent to strike.
Fall Out: Cottonmouths that live on islands in the Gulf of Mexico gather beneath the nests of seabirds so they can scoop up any fish the birds drop or snatch young that fall from the nest.
Poor Farmer[]
- On a relaxing canoe ride, a man lets his hand slip into the water and drag along. Unfortunately, his canoe has entered a cottonmouth's territory.
- The snake mistakes the man's hand for prey and bites into it, injecting a full dose of tissue-destroying venom.
- The cottonmouth hangs on to its "prey" as the man tries to shake it off. Toxins begin to flow through the victim's body, which may kill him if he can't find help.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The Cottonmouth shares it's genus, Agkistrodon, with the Copperhead.