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Cottonmouth

The Cottonmouth is the only semi-aquatic pit viper in the world and is a great swimmer, even entering the sea. Found in parts of the USA, these highly venomous reptiles would stand on the ground, displaying its fangs, if threatened.

Scientific Classification
Quick Information

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Reptilia
Order	Squamata
Suborder	Serpentes
Family	Viperidae
Subfamily	Crotalinae
Genus	Agkistrodon
Scientific Name	Agkistrodon piscivorus

Other Names/Nicknames	Black water viper, black snake, water pitviper, worm-tailed, pitviper, water copperhead, cotton-mouthed snake, mangrove rattler, moccasin snake, water moccasin, North American water viper, water rattlesnake, or simply ‘viper’
Length	More than 31 in
Color	Olive-brown, grayish-brown or black, belly part is white, yellowish-white or tan, marked with dark spots
Distribution	Southeastern United States
Habitat	Close to swamp areas or water bodies including lowland swamps, lakes, rivers, bayheads, sloughs, irrigation ditches, canals, rice fields and small, clear, rocky, mountain streams
Diet	Mostly fish and frogs, also mammals, birds, other amphibians, smaller snakes, small turtles and small alligators; cannibalism is also practiced
Venom Fact	Highly venomous
Breeding Season	Summer to monsoon
Mode of Reproduction	1-20 live young
IUCN Conservation Status	LC