In biology, a copperhead is any of four species of venomoussnake: the American copperhead of eastern North America, and three species of Australian copperhead. Main articles: Life All organisms (viruses not included) consist of cells, which in turn, are based on a common carbon-based biochemistry. ... In biology, a species is, loosely speaking, a group of related organisms that share a more or less distinctive form and are capable of interbreeding. ... Wasp stinger, with droplet of venom Venom is a general term for the poisons used by several groups of animal species, for the purpose of defense and hunting prey. ... Superfamilies and Families Henophidia Aniliidae Anomochilidae Boidae Bolyeriidae Cylindrophiidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Uropeltidae Xenopeltidae Typhlopoidea Anomalepididae Leptotyphlopidae Typhlopidae Xenophidia Acrochordidae Atractaspididae Colubridae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Viperidae Snakes are cold blooded legless reptiles closely related to lizards, which share the order Squamata. ... Binomial name Agkistrodon contortrix Linnaeus, 1766 The American copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) is a species of venomous viper native to eastern North America. ... World map showing location of North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere, bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west... Species Austrelaps labialis Austrelaps ramsayi Austrelaps superbus An Australian copperhead is any of three closely related species of snake in the genus Austrelaps. ...
Other uses of the term copperhead:
"Copperheads" was a slur describing a group of Northern Peace Democrats who opposed the AmericanCivil War while it was under way, wanting an immediate peace settlement. They were also against emancipation, and some formed groups to persuade Union soldiers to desert, and to help Confederate prisoners of war escape. The name Copperheads was given to them by Republicans, explicitly comparing them to venomous snakes that strike without warning.
In rock climbing, a copperhead is a small nut, once made of copper or brass, but now usually of aluminium.
Copperhead is a slang term referring to a ginger-haired person.
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Copperheads can be found in most all habitats, although they often prefer to be near streams and other waterways.
It is not unusual for Copperheads to be found in forested or undeveloped areas within and near suburban developments.
The relative abundance of Copperheads and their occurrences near human habitations is the reason bites from Copperheads are at the top of venomous snake bite statistics in the eastern US.
Copperheads are pit vipers, and have large, hollow fangs at the front of their mouth that are connected to the bones of the upper jaw and palate so that they are folded against the roof of the mouth when the mouth is closed and are automatically brought forward when the mouth is opened.
The poison of the copperhead is hemolytic, meaning it causes the breakdown of red blood cells in the bitten animal and this eventually subdues the animal, allowing the snake to easily swallow it.
Copperheads are most active April through late October and are diurnal in the spring and the fall, nocturnal in the summer.
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