NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Cottonmouth

The cottonmouth, or water moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorous), is a venomous snake closely related to the copperhead. It is a pit viper, with a heat-sensing organ (heat pits) in its nose that allows it to locate warm blooded prey. There are three subspecies of cottonmouth: ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (945x945, 210 KB) Agkistrodon piscivorus, from http://www. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria (coral, jellyfish, anenomes) Placozoa (trichoplax) Subregnum Bilateria (bilateral symmetry) Acoelomorpha (basal) Orthonectida (parasitic to flatworms, echinoderms, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicatas Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders See text. ... Suborders Amphisbaenia - Worm lizards Sauria- Lizards Serpentes - Snakes Squamata (scaled reptiles) is the largest recent order of reptiles, including lizards and snakes. ... Subfamilies Crotalinae (Pit Vipers) Viperinae (Vipers) The Viperidae family is made up of two subfamilies: Crotalinae (Pit Vipers) Viperinae (Vipers) Categories: Stub | Snakes ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... Lacepede can refer to: Bernard Germain Ã‰tienne de la Ville, Comte de LacÃ©pÃ¨de, French naturalist rue LacÃ¨pÃ©de, a street in Paris (Ve arrondissement) LacÃ©pÃ¨de, a commune of France Lacepede, a Local Government Area of South Australia Lacepede Islands, a group of four islands in... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... A poisonous snake (properly, venomous snake) is a snake that uses saliva venom delivered through two fangs in its mouth to kill its prey. ... Binomial name Agkistrodon contortrix Linnaeus, 1766 The American copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) is a species of venomous viper native to eastern North America. ... Genera See text. ...

Lacepede can refer to: Bernard Germain Ã‰tienne de la Ville, Comte de LacÃ©pÃ¨de, French naturalist rue LacÃ¨pÃ©de, a street in Paris (Ve arrondissement) LacÃ©pÃ¨de, a commune of France Lacepede, a Local Government Area of South Australia Lacepede Islands, a group of four islands in... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 22nd 170 451 kmÂ² 260 km 800 km 17. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... Charles Darwin 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Range

The eastern cottonmouth is found along the eastern coast of the United States from Virginia to Alabama. The western cottonmouth is found as far west as central Texas, through eastern Oklahoma, Missouri, as far north as southern Illinois, and east to Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. The Florida cottonmouth is found in the state of Florida and southern Georgia. Their ranges overlap, and intergrading of subspecies is not unknown. Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 35th 110,862 kmÂ² 320 km 690 km 7. ... Official language(s) English Capital Montgomery Largest city Birmingham Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 30th 52,423 miÂ²/135,775 kmÂ² 190 mi/306 km 330 mi/531 km 3. ... Official language(s) None. ... Official language(s) None Capital Oklahoma City Largest city Oklahoma City Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 20th 181,196 kmÂ² 355 km 645 km 1. ... Official language(s) English Capital Jefferson City Largest city Kansas City Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 21st 69,709 miÂ²; 180,693 kmÂ² 240 mi; 385 km 300 mi; 480 km 1. ... Official language(s) English Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 25th 149,998 kmÂ² 340 km 629 km 4. ... Official language(s) English Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 37th 104,749 kmÂ² 225 km 610 km 1. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 36th 109,247 kmÂ² 195 km 710 km 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Montgomery Largest city Birmingham Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 30th 52,423 miÂ²/135,775 kmÂ² 190 mi/306 km 330 mi/531 km 3. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 22nd 170 451 kmÂ² 260 km 800 km 17. ... Motto: Official (Latin): E pluribus unum (1789 to 1956) (Translated: Out of Many, One) In God We Trust (1956 to present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at federal level; English de facto Government â€¢ President â€¢ Vice President Federal... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 22nd 170 451 kmÂ² 260 km 800 km 17. ... In biology, hybrid has three meanings. ... In zoology, as in other branches of biology, subspecies is the rank immediately subordinate to a species. ...

Image File history File linksMetadata Juvenile_Agkistrodon_piscivorus. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Juvenile_Agkistrodon_piscivorus. ...

Physical description

Cottonmouths vary in size greatly, with the Florida subspecies being the largest. They average between 75 and 120cm in length, but some animals have been recorded at almost 190cm in length. They are typically dark in color, either black, dark brown, or a dark olive green, with a muddy appearance. Sometimes muted banding is present. Juveniles have a more striking appearance, with distinctive light and dark banding and a bright yellow-green tail tip. As they age, the banding and color on the tail tip fade. Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 22nd 170 451 kmÂ² 260 km 800 km 17. ... In zoology, as in other branches of biology, subspecies is the rank immediately subordinate to a species. ...

Behavior

Scientists at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory designed tests to measure the suite of behavioral responses by free-ranging cottonmouths to encounters with humans. When confronted, 51 percent of the test subjects tried to escape and 78 percent used threat displays or other defensive tactics. Only when the snakes were picked up with a mechanical hand were they likely to bite. [1] In addition, the scientists noted that many of those that did bite, did not inject venom. Such a “dry” bite could also be another, more serious threat display. Unlike most snakes, including the copperhead, when startled the cottonmouth often will stand its ground and open its mouth ("gape" or "smile") to warn predators to stay away. That behavior is many times seen as aggressive, but if left alone they will leave. The venom of the cottonmouth is hemotoxic, causing severe necrosis near the site of the wound and potentially death of the victim if treatment is not received promptly. Treatment generally includes intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and an antivenin like CroFab. These snakes, though heavy bodied, are good climbers and they will frequently sun themselves on branches overhanging water. They are a semi-aquatic species, spending almost all their time in or very close to permanent water sources. It has been suggested that Snake poison be merged into this article or section. ... Superfamilies and Families Henophidia Aniliidae Anomochilidae Boidae Bolyeriidae Cylindrophiidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Uropeltidae Xenoplplplpeltidae 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. ... In biology, a copperhead is any of four species of venomous snake: the American copperhead of eastern North America, and three species of Australian copperhead. ... It has been suggested that Snake poison be merged into this article or section. ... Hemotoxins are toxins that destroy red blood cells (hemolysis), disrupt blood clotting, and/or cause organ degeneration and generalized tissue damage. ... Necrosis (in Greek ÎÎµÎºÏÏŒÏ‚ = Dead) is the name given to unprogrammed death of cells/living tissue (compare with apoptosis - programmed cell death). ... An intravenous drip in a hospital Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is the administration of liquid substances directly into a vein. ... An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. ... Antivenom (or antivenin, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites. ... CroFab is the commercial name for crotalidae polyvalent immune fragment antigen binding, manufactured by Savage Laboratories in Melville, New York. ... Superfamilies and Families Henophidia Aniliidae Anomochilidae Boidae Bolyeriidae Cylindrophiidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Uropeltidae Xenoplplplpeltidae 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. ... In biology, a species is the basic unit of biodiversity. ...

Juvenile cottonmouths have a behavior (shared with copperheads) of what is known as caudal luring. They use the bright color on the tip of their tail as a lure to entice prey items to approach within striking range. Binomial name Agkistrodon contortrix Linnaeus, 1766 The American copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) is a species of venomous viper native to eastern North America. ... In zootomy, several terms are used to describe the location of organs and other structures in the body of bilateral animals. ... Prey can refer to: Look up Prey in Wiktionary, the free dictionary A prey animal eaten by a predator in an act called predation. ...

Image File history File links Agkistrodon_piscivorus_leucostoma. ... Image File history File links Agkistrodon_piscivorus_leucostoma. ...

Diet

Like all snakes, cottonmouths are carnivorous. They will consume a wide variety of prey including fish, small mammals, lizards, birds, small turtles, baby alligators, and even other snakes. Usually a victim is envenomated quickly with a bite and then released. If it does not succumb immediately, it is tracked by scent. Superfamilies and Families Henophidia Aniliidae Anomochilidae Boidae Bolyeriidae Cylindrophiidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Uropeltidae Xenoplplplpeltidae 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. ... This article deals with meat-eating animals. ... Prey can refer to: Look up Prey in Wiktionary, the free dictionary A prey animal eaten by a predator in an act called predation. ... Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus: the most abundant species of fish in the world. ... Orders Subclass Multituberculata (extinct) Plagiaulacida Cimolodonta Subclass Palaeoryctoides (extinct) Subclass Triconodonta (extinct) Subclass Eutheria (includes extinct ancestors)/Placentalia (excludes extinct ancestors) Afrosoricida Artiodactyla Carnivora Cetacea Chiroptera Cimolesta (extinct) Creodonta (extinct) Condylarthra (extinct) Dermoptera Desmostylia (extinct) Embrithopoda (extinct) Hyracoidea Insectivora Lagomorpha Litopterna (extinct) Macroscelidea Mesonychia (extinct) Notoungulata (extinct) Perissodactyla Pholidota Plesiadapiformes... Families Many, see text. ... Orders Many - see section below. ... Families See text. ... Species Alligator mississippiensis Alligator sinensis An alligator is a crocodile in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. ... Superfamilies and Families Henophidia Aniliidae Anomochilidae Boidae Bolyeriidae Cylindrophiidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Uropeltidae Xenoplplplpeltidae 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. ... It has been suggested that Snake poison be merged into this article or section. ...

Reproduction

Cottonmouths breed yearly, in the spring. They are ovoviviparous, giving birth to 10 or so live young after a 3 month gestation. The young average around 20cm in length. There is little to no maternal care. Ovoviviparous animals develop within eggs that remain within the mother up until they hatch or are about to. ... Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. ...

Status

The cottonmouth does not hold any particular conservation status, but because of its perceived aggressiveness and fear of its bite, many are killed by humans every year. Unfortunately, the far more common species of water snakes of the genus Nerodia are often mistaken for cottonmouths and many more of them are killed every year than cottonmouths. In biology, a species is the basic unit of biodiversity. ... In biology, a genus (plural genera) is a grouping in the classification of living organisms having one or more related and morphologically similar species. ...

External links

Other meanings

Category: Pit vipers Lucy Liu as O-Ren Ishii in Kill Bill Lucy Alexis Liu (born December 2, 1968) is a Emmy Award nominated American actress of Chinese ancestry, best known for starring in the TV series Ally McBeal and the 2000 film Charlies Angels. ... O-Ren Ishii is a fictional character in Quentin Tarantinos 2003 film Kill Bill, portrayed by Lucy Liu. ... Kill Bill is the fourth film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino starring Uma Thurman, David Carradine,Vivica A. Fox, Lucy Liu, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Sonny Chiba, and Gordon Liu. ... Quentin Tarantino, playing Mr. ... Slang is the non-standard or non-dialectal use of words in a language of a particular social group, and sometimes the creation of new words or importation of words from another language. ... Species Cannabis indica Cannabis ruderalis Cannabis sativa Cannabis is a genus of flowering plant that includes one or more species. ...

Contents

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