What is the Description of a Water Moccasin?
The water moccasin, also known as the cottonmouth, is an aggressive, poisonous snake that lives near waterways. It is known as a pit viper and seeks out prey or lies in wait of it. Because of the dangerous nature of the water moccasin it is important to know the physical characteristics, as well as the habits, of the snake.
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Body
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The body of the water moccasin is found in three different colors: brown, black and olive. With yellow bellies, water moccasins also have bands that cross their bodies and wrap around their stomachs. A younger water moccasin will have a yellow or green tip on its tail, and older snakes may appear to be one solid color, with their bands fading with age.
Head
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The water moccasin's head is shaped in a triangle. However, the eyes are distinctive facial features of the water moccasin. The water moccasin has cat-shaped eyes that are highlighted by a dark colored line that extends through the eye and onto the face of the snake. Its mouth is large, and it is known as a trapjaw snake because of the ability of the water moccasin to snap its wide mouth shut and hold its prey. The interior of the water moccasin's mouth is white, which led to the snake being referred to as a cottonmouth.
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Length
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The average water moccasin is approximately 30 inches in length, although there have been some water moccasins that have been measured more than 50 inches. In some of the related species of water moccasin on continents such as Asia and Europe, the snakes have been known to exceed 6 feet in length.
Environment
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The water moccasin is normally found in the southeastern part of the United States. However, water moccasins do abound near waterways in northern states, including Illinois. They prefer to rest on logs or rocks by or in the water and sometimes lie with their mouths open, ready to strike.
Food
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Water moccasins thrive off of a diet of frogs, lizards and fish primarily. However, they will also eat birds, turtles, other snakes and mammals as part of their diet. This includes eating other water moccasins. Young water moccasins will rattle their tales to attract animals to them, so they can attack. Some water moccasins have been known to feast off of other dead animals.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit water moccasin image by Earl Robbins from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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Oh I will now that I read this crap! And now that I know what to look out for......
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Sherry I told you anytime there is water in fl, you get gaters and snakes. Wow be careful
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It was probably Larking around to get my cat's or dog's in the Lani/area!!! Greatttttt
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Great, We have water Moccasin's in bk The guy 2 houses away called the sheriff to see if he can kill it Cuz he caught it, They said to put it dw thank/god! Man I just got it all Gator's Snakes.
