Florida Cottonmouth

Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti

The Florida cottonmouth, also called the water moccasin, is one of three subspecies of the only venomous water snake in North America. It ranges through the wetlands of Florida, southeastern Alabama and southern Georgia.

Adults average 36 inches in length. Heads are spade shaped and noticeably larger and thicker than their necks. Cottonmouths are on of the pit vipers.

At birth, cottonmouths resemble copperhead snakes with their light hour-glass markings on a dark reddish background. Their bright yellow tail serves as a lure for frogs, a staple of their juvenile diets. Adults lose their juvenile coloration and become brownish black in color. Dark brown cheek stripes are edged with light lines. A pair of dark lines run to the tip of the snout. Faint brown stripes encircle the body. The chin is a light cream color.

It is difficult to differentiate the venomous adult cottonmouth from the adults of several species of non-venomous water snakes. The dark stripes running from the eyes backwards along the head are bordered top and bottom by a cream color. This is probably the best way to identify this subspecies since it holds true for all color variations, including those of the juveniles. The cottonmouth is rather sluggish and is slow to move away if disturbed. Instead, it will stand its ground and perform a threat display by opening its mouth, showing a white interior before striking. Hence the common name “cottonmouth.”

The cottonmouth eats small mammals and birds as well as cold-blooded prey of various types.

Females give birth from one to 15 babies, averaging seven inches in length.