Animal Profiles
Reptiles

Cottonmouth

Agkistrodon piscivorus

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

The cottonmouth is a venomous, semiaquatic pit viper of the southeastern United States. Its common name refers to the pale lining inside its mouth.

Eastern cottonmouth showing its pale mouth lining in a defensive display; US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention photograph.

Eastern cottonmouth showing its pale mouth lining in a defensive display; US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention photograph.

At a glance

Location
Cottonmouths use swamps, marshes, streams and lakes in the southeastern United States. They also move over nearby land and rest beneath vegetation or fallen wood. Older sources include Florida populations under the same species name.
Habitat
Wetlands, Rivers and lakes
Diet
Carnivore
Food
Fish and small mammals are important foods, but the diet also includes amphibians, reptiles and other prey. Venom helps subdue food. Cottonmouths commonly forage at night and remain close to water, although they are capable of moving on land.

Classification

Common name
Cottonmouth
Browse group
Reptiles
Scientific name or taxon
Agkistrodon piscivorus
Taxon rank
species
Family
Viperidae
Genus
Agkistrodon
Source classification
Reptilia

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • The inside of its mouth is pale.
  • It hunts in and around water.
  • Young animals have yellowish tail tips.

Habitat and range

Cottonmouths use swamps, marshes, streams and lakes in the southeastern United States. They also move over nearby land and rest beneath vegetation or fallen wood. Older sources include Florida populations under the same species name.

Appearance and adaptations

A stout body carries dark crossbands that may become less obvious with age. Young snakes are more strongly patterned and have a yellowish tail tip. When threatened, a cottonmouth may gape to display its white mouth lining.

Diet and behaviour

Fish and small mammals are important foods, but the diet also includes amphibians, reptiles and other prey. Venom helps subdue food. Cottonmouths commonly forage at night and remain close to water, although they are capable of moving on land.

Sources

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