Water Moccasin Identification

The water moccasin is a snake native to the southern states as far west as Texas. A venomous species, the water moccasin lives close to water, is an excellent swimmer and has distinctive looks and behaviors that will help you to identify it.

Size

The average water moccasin grows between 30 and 48 inches in length, although the Smithsonian National Zoological Park website states that some can reach as long as 74 inches.

Coloration

An adult water moccasin is typically dark in color on top, with the shades ranging from olive to brown to black. The juvenile water moccasin is much lighter and has as many as 15 colored cross bands across its back.

Cottonmouth

The snake gets the nickname cottonmouth from the cottony white lining inside its mouth that it will reveal when threatened. As danger presents itself, a cottonmouth will open wide its jaws and keep them open, even as it lies in a coiled position.

Pit Viper

Categorized as a pit viper, the water moccasin has two pits between its eyes and its nostrils that have the ability to sense heat. These pits allow the nocturnal snake to detect differences in temperature as it seeks its prey.

Considerations

The head of a water moccasin is triangular and possesses a dark line running through the eye. The snake has elliptical pupils in its eyes. A swimming water moccasin will keep its head high and force its back to stay above the surface.

References

• Missouri Department of Conservation: Cottonmouth Confusion
• University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory: Cottonmouth
• Smithsonian National Zoological Pak: Cottonmouth