| COTTONMOUTH |
| Agkistrodon piscivorus |
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Range:
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They range throughout the Southeast US, commonplace especially in Florida and South Carolina. |
 Cottonmouth snakes are widely found, dangerous pit-viper snakes. They are primarily active at night, but they bask in the sun during the day. Its color ranges from olive green to dark brown to jet black. The explanation for its name is the bright white lining of the mouth that it displays as a warning to predators and prey alike. |
| Habitat: |
They can be found in nearly all freshwater habitats but are most common in cypress swamps, river floodplains, and heavily-vegetated wetlands. They venture overland and can be sometimes found far from permanent water. Cottonmouths often congregate around drying pools in wetlands to feed on trapped fish and amphibians. |
| Diet: |
They consume a diverse diet of animals - other reptiles, fish, amphibians, invertebrates, birds, and mammals. |
| Status: |
Common, and not listed. However, they are killed by humans throughout their range. |
| Approximate Dimensions of Adult: |
Length: 30 to 48 inches.
Weight: Around 2 - 4 lbs. |
| Lifespan: |
Unknown. |
| Reproduction & Offspring: |
They breed in the spring. Cottonmouths are oviviparous, meaning that the young develop inside the female in a shell-less egg. The female gives birth to as many as 12 offspring every two to three years. |
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