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Home > Species

Copperhead

A species of Moccasins, Also known as Highland moccasin, Narrow-banded copperhead, Pilot snake, Red oak, Eastern Copperhead
Scientific name : Agkistrodon contortrix Genus : Moccasins

Copperhead, A species of Moccasins
Also known as:
Highland moccasin, Narrow-banded copperhead, Pilot snake, Red oak, Eastern Copperhead
Scientific name: Agkistrodon contortrix
Genus: Moccasins
Content

Description General Info

Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) Photo By javierahr , used under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

Description

Agkistrodon contortrix is a species of venomous snake endemic to Eastern North America, a member of the subfamily Crotalinae (pit vipers). The common name for this species is the copperhead. Its behavior may lead to accidental encounters with humans. Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

General Info

Lifespan

10-20 years

Diet

Copperhead primarily feeds on small mammals like mice, but also consumes birds, lizards, and amphibians. Particularly, it utilizes its heat-sensing pits to detect warm-blooded prey, even in total darkness.

Appearance

Copperhead is a small-medium sized snake with a stocky body. Its skin is covered in keeled scales, predominantly copper or reddish-brown, broken up by irregular, darker crossbands. The crossbands can sometimes resemble an hourglass shape. Notably, it possesses a triangular shaped head, and a vertically slit pupil. There are no significant differences in physical appearance due to age, gender, or subspecies.

Behavior

Copperhead exhibits a solitary, nocturnal lifestyle, primarily hunting at dusk for small mammals and birds. Its vibrant copper color aids in camouflage within deciduous forests. Interaction with others only occurs during mating season, suggesting a low level of social structure. It employs ""warning"" behavior rather than being immediately aggressive, vibrating its tail when threatened before resorting to a venomous bite, signifying a strong territorial instinct.

Population

Stable
Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) Photo By javierahr , used under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

Scientific Classification

Phylum
Chordates
Class
Reptiles
Order
Lizards and snakes
Family
Vipers
Genus
Moccasins
Species
Copperhead
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