Water Moccasin vs. Cottonmouth. The coloration of a northern water snake varies greatly. One of these is the venomous cottonmouth—also known as the water moccasin. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the cottonmouths’ cousins, the copperheads, often swim in a similar manner. Florida's Snakes Cottonmouth or Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus) VENOMOUS. What Kind of Shelter Do Anacondas Live In? It can be difficult to distinguish cottonmouths from the many nonvenomous water snakes of the region without getting dangerously close to the unknown snake. Others may mistake it for a copperhead. Snakes That Look Like Rattlesnakes But Are Not. If you are able to identify the snake, do not disturb it, as it can react with a bite. This confusion often is a result of the observer relying solely on North Carolina Snakes That Live Near Water, Snakes That Swim with Their Heads out of Water. Several different snake species live in the wetlands, ponds and rivers of the southeastern United States. Shape The World. People sometimes fear that it is a water moccasin, also called a cottonmouth. What Are Native Snakes in Georgia With Orange Bellies? All snakes can swim, and most species do so quite well; nevertheless, some snakes are better swimmers than others. Tennessee Herpetological Society: Is it a Cottonmouth? This behavior may be associated with the defensive use of their facial pits; by aiming their heads upward, the snakes can better see looming, warm-blooded predators. How Long Do Banded Sea Snakes Stay Under Water? The snake is often mistaken for the venomous cottonmouth snake, but the diamondback water snake, like all water snakes, is irritable and will bite if threatened. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Water snakes may float or swim at the surface of the water, and at times cottonmouths will swim underwater to capture fish. Several different snake species live in the wetlands, ponds and rivers of the southeastern United States. Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorous) inhabit a variety of aquatic habitats along the coastal plain and into the piedmont of the United States, from Virginia to Texas. Although water moccasins are the same however, there are more than one type. Northern Copperhead vs Northern Water Snake vs Eastern Milk Snake Two of New Jersey’s snakes are often misidentified as Copperheads: the Northern Water Snake and the Eastern Milk Snake. The water snake, like most non-venomous snakes, has a broader shaped head with no distinct … Another physical attribute of this snake is that a pit is present between the eyes and nostrils of this snake. Cottonmouths and their close relatives the copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) frequently hold their head at a 45-degree angle. PART OF WILD SKY MEDIA | FAMILY & PARENTING. While cottonmouths and water snakes both swim in essentially the same manner, there is one important difference. They are pit vipers with two small pits on the front of their face that detect infrared light—heat—from their surroundings. Water Moccasins and cottonmouths share one common thing: they’re the same snake. In this article we’ll take a look at Water Moccasins vs Cottonmouths and discern the difference, if any. Their heads are also much larger than the normal water snake and they have a diamond-like shape that almost seems like a … The University of Georgia: Is It a Water Moccasin? northern Water snake The northern water snake is often killed out of fear. What Types of Snakes Can Flare Their Necks & Hoods? The cottonmouth is a venomous species not found in Pennsylvania. Cottonmouths reach about 4 feet in length, and produce live young in the fall. Cottonmouths are very buoyant snakes that usually float while holding their heads high out of the water. Blotched Water Snake This snake is olive green to brown with dark grayish-brown blotches across the back. © 2020 WILD SKY MEDIA. Water Moccasin Bite and Treatment. The eye pupil type is vertical in case of water moccasin, whereas harmless water snake has a round eye pupil type. One of these is the venomous cottonmouth—also known as the water moccasin. (Please note, the Northern Water Snake is NOT the same as a Water Moccasin.) Fortunately, by observing a snake’s swimming behavior, you can distinguish cottonmouths from harmless water snakes. Empower Her. Additionally, as cottonmouths frequently exhibit gaping behavior at predators, the elevated head posture may help them to engage in this tactic. Venomous snakebites are rare and can usually be avoided; however, knowing how to respond correctly to venomous snakebites is also important. Regardless of their morphological adaptations, most snakes swim in essentially the same way—by undulating from side to side, while using the tail to provide propulsion. The water moccasin, like most venomous snakes, has a large triangular-shaped head, giving the appearance of a neck between the head and body, and has long fangs. How Many Different Types of Venomous Snakes Are There? Some snakes—such as the completely aquatic sea snakes—have paddle-like tails and dorsally placed nostrils, while other species do not exhibit such extreme morphological adaptations for swimming. The water moccasin has a brownish color, but this will also go darker as they age more. Savannah River Ecology Laboratory: Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorous), Journal of Experimental Biology: Heat in Evolution's Kitchen: Evolutionary Perspectives on the Functions and Origin of the Facial Pit of Pitvipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae), Journal of Experimental Zoology: Comparisons of Aquatic Versus Terrestrial Predatory Strikes in the Pitviper, Agkistrodon piscivorus, Adaptations of Cottonmouth Water Moccasins. Cottonmouths prey on frogs, fish, snakes, rodents, birds, salamanders and invertebrates, capturing these animals with the help of their potent venom.

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