How to Identify a Black Cottonmouth Snake

Learn what a Cottonmouth snake looks like.

Only two types of Cottonmouth snakes reside within North America: the Eastern Cottonmouth and the Western Cottonmouth. The phrase "Black Cottonmouth" simply refers to a Cottonmouth snake that happens to have a black coloration all over his body. In actuality, Cottonmouth snakes usually present in dark colors ranging from dark olives to dark browns and a dark gray or black. The Cottonmouth snake often goes by the common name "water moccasin" and is frequently confused with various water snakes. Learning to identify a Cottonmouth can help to save your life, as these venomous snakes protect themselves with life-threatening bites.

Instructions

1. Stay a safe distance away and observe the snake to identify him properly. Remain several feet away from the snake. You do not want to identify the snake as you speed towards the hospital. Anytime you see a snake, you should keep your distance and move slowly to avoid provoking the snake.

2. Examine the length of the snake to determine its approximate age. Cottonmouths average in length between 30 and 48 inches in adulthood, while young cottonmouths measure in at 8 to 10 inches immediately after birth.

3. Observe any color patterns on the snake's body to help determine if the snake belongs to the Cottonmouth snake species. An adult Cottonmouth has a darker color than a juvenile cottonmouth, which has a distinctive band along its entire body and a bright, yellow-green tail tip. This tail coloration fades to black as the Cottonmouth ages. Remember that Cottonmouths appear in shades of dark brown, dark olive and black, so do not let down your guard just because the snake you see has a different;y colored body than expected. You may be seeing a differently colored Cottonmouth or a completely different species of venomous snake.

4. Notice the habitat surrounding the snake. Cottonmouths reside in water as well as on dry land. Typically, cottonmouths stay near water sources and warm themselves on rocks and branches near the edge of the water.

5. Observe the snake to see what it eats. Cottonmouths eat a lot of small fish and other marine prey, as well as rats, small birds, turtles, lizards, salamanders, frogs and squirrels.

6. Toss a rock or nearby twig at the snake and observe his reaction. Remember to stay at least 10 feet away when you do this. In an act of protection, a threatened Cottonmouth will gap his mouth open to expose the bright white color inside. This is what gives the species the name "Cottonmouth".

7. Examine the shape of the snake's head. Like most venomous snakes, the Cottonmouth has a pointed head that has a deep V-shape when compared to the more rounded shape of non-venomous snakes' heads.

Tips & Warnings

• Breeding habits can tell you something about the species of a snake. Cottonmouth snakes move to the land to give live birth to their offspring. Many venomous snakes give birth to live snakes that immediately begin fending for themselves. Cottonmouths give birth to 6 to 12 live snakes at a time.

References

• Benedictine University: Cottonmouth
• Mississippi State University Extension Service: Snakes Alive! How to Identify Snakes
• SnakesandFrogs.com: Cottonmouth Snake
• Venomousnsakes.net: Cottonmouth Snakes

Resources

• Kingsnake.com: What Kind of Snake Was That?-A Guide to Identifying North American Venomous Snakes