Cottonmouth

Cottonmouth TomSpinker

Agkistrodon piscivorus is a venomous snake, a species of pit viper, found in the eastern United States. Adults are large and capable of delivering a painful and potentially fatal bite.[citation needed] This is the world's only semi-aquatic viper, usually found in or near water, particularly in slow-moving and shallow lakes and streams.

The snake is a strong swimmer and will even enter the sea, successfully colonizing islands off both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The common names for the species include variants on water, swamp or black 'moccasin', 'viper', 'cottonmouth', and 'rattler'. Many of the common names refer to the threat display, where this species will often stand its ground and gape at an intruder, exposing the white lining of its mouth.

This is a list of common names for Agkistrodon piscivorus, some of which also refer to other species: Water moccasin, cottonmouth, black moccasin, black snake, blunt-tail moccasin, congo, copperhead, cottonmouth water moccasin, cotton-mouthed snake, gapper, highland moccasin, lowland moccasin, mangrove rattler, moccasin, North American cottonmouth snake, North American water moccasin, North American water viper, pilot, rusty moccasin, stub-tail, stump moccasin, stump-tail moccasin, stump-tail viper, swamp lion, Texas moccasin, trap jaw, Troost's moccasin, true horn snake, true water moccasin, viper, water mokeson, water pilot, water adder, water rattlesnake, water viper, cotton-mouth snake, gaper, snap jaw.

The diet consists mainly of fish and frogs, but is otherwise highly varied and, uniquely, has even been reported to include carrion. The specific name is derived from the Latin words piscis and voro, which mean "fish" and "to eat".

Eyelash palm-pitviper

Eyelash Palm-Pitviper by KBugler

Bothriechis schlegelii is a venomous pitviper species found in Central and South America. Small and arboreal, these snakes are characterized by their wide array of color variations, as well as the superciliary scales over the eyes. Often present in zoological exhibits. Named after the German ornithologist, Hermann Schlegel. No subspecies are currently recognized.

This is a relatively small species that rarely exceed 75 cm (2.5 feet) in length, with females being larger than males. They have a wide, triangular-shaped head, and eyes with vertical pupils. Like all pit vipers, they are solenoglyphous, having large, hypodermic needle-like fangs in the upper jaw that fold back when not in use, and have heat sensitive organs, or pits, located on either side of the head between the eye and nostril.

Its most distinguishing feature, and origin of its common name, is the set of modified scales over the eyes that look much like eyelashes. The eyelashes are thought to aid in camouflage, breaking up the snake's outline among the foliage it usually hides in. B. schlegelii occurs in a wide range of colors, including red, yellow, brown, green, even pink, as well as various combinations therof. They often have black or brown speckling on the base color.

Common names

Eyelash viper, eyelash mountain viper, Schlegel's viper, Schlegel's palm viper, eyelash snake, horned palm viper. eyelash pit viper, Schlegel's pit viper. eyelash palm-pitviper. Also known as Bocaracá in Costa Rica and other Latin American countries.

Geographic range

Its range extends from southern Mexico (northern Chiapas), southeastward on the Atlantic slope and lowlands through Central America to northern South America in Colombia and Venezuela. Also found on the Pacific versant and lowlands in parts of Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Occurs in mesic forest at elevations almost from sea level to 2640 m altitude. The type locality is "Popayan"(Popayán, Colombia).

Side-striped palm viper

Side-striped palm viper by stuboo

Bothriechis lateralis is a venomous pitviper species found in the mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Adult specimens may exceed 100 cm, but are usually less than 80 cm in length. These are relatively slender snakes and have a prehensile tail.

The color pattern consists of an emerald green to bluish green ground color, overlaid with a series of yellow alternating paravertebral vertical bars. Some of the scales adjacent to the yellow in this pattern may be blue or black-tipped.

The belly is a uniform yellowing-green, bordered on either side by a pale yellow stripe running along the lower portion of the paraventral scales and the extreme lateral part of the ventral scales. The head is uniformly green on top and a blue or blue-gray postocular stripe may be present. If a postocular stripe is present, it is weakly defined, especially in large adults. The iris is yellow.

Juvenile specimens are usually brown with dark brown markings on the head, bronze irises, postocular stripes, paravertebral makings that are edged with yellow, and a tail tip that is yellow or chartreuse. Captive juveniles retain this color pattern for about six months, after which the ground color starts to become a dull lime green and the yellow edges of the paravertebral vertical bars more prominent. It is thought that the shift to adult coloration takes about 18-24 months to complete.

Like many green snakes, captive adults tend to become blue over time, although blue specimens are sometimes found in the wild.

Common names : Side-striped palm-pitviper, side-striped palm viper, green palm viper, yellow-lined palm viper.

Found in the mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama, including the Cordillera de Tilarán, the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera de Talamanca to the provinces of Chiriquí and Veraguas. Occurs at 850-980 m altitude. The type locality is listed as "Costa Rica vom Vulcan Barbo [Volcán Barba] ... und .. Veragua" [Panama].

Sri Lankan pit viper

Sri Lanka Palm Viper - Trimeresurus trigonocephalus by HGHjim

Trimeresurus trigonocephalus is a venomous pitviper species found in Sri Lanka. No subspecies are currently recognized.

A sexually dimorphic species, at a maximum of 70 cm in length the males are considerably smaller than females, which can grow to 130 cm. In addition, male tends to have a blue coloration, whereas the females are predominantly green. These are bulky snakes with a prehensile tail, suiting their arboreal lifestyle.

Common names : Sri Lankan green pitviper, Sri Lankan pit viper, pala polonga, green pit viper.

Guatemalan palm viper

Guatemalan Palm Pit Viper at the St Louis Zoo by LogansProudDaddy

Bothriechis aurifer is a venomous pitviper species found in Mexico and Guatemala. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Adults generally grow to less than 70 cm in length, but sometimes to over 1 m. The body is relatively slender with a prehensile tail.

The scalation includes 1-5 intersupraocular scales, 8-12 supralabials, 9-13 infralabials and 18-21 (mode 19) rows of dorsal scales at midbody. The second supralabial is fused with the prelacunal to form a lacunolabial and the interrictals number 16-21. Males have 148-167 ventral scales and 58-64 subcaudals (mostly undivided), while females have 152-162 ventrals and 48-61 subcaudal scales.

The color pattern consists of a green ground color overlaid dorsally with a series of yellow blotches that are bordered in black. Between the botches, an irregular, often broken, dorsal stripe can be seen. The yellowish green belly is often lighter than the dorsum.

On the head, a dark postocular stripe is present. The iris is usually yellowish-green, sometimes bronze, with black specks or reticulations. Over 90% of all specimens have the usual dark dorsal pattern, but a few are uniform green and have no postocular stripes. The juvenile coloration includes a pale lime green ground color and a colorful tail tip.

Found in Mexico in the mountains of eastern Chiapas, and in northern Guatemala. Occurs in cloud forest at 1200-2300 m altitude. The type locality given is "Cobán, [Alta] Vera Paz, Guatemala."

Eastern Fox Snake

Eastern Fox Snake by wikipedia

The Eastern Fox Snake (Pantherophis gloydi) is a species of Fox Snake. The Eastern Fox Snake is a member of the North American Rat Snake Family "Pantherophis". Recently split from their phylogenetically similar cousins the Western Fox Snake (Pantherophis vulpina). The separation of these snakes to their own species is a recent occurrence.

The Eastern Fox Snake is a denizen of the freshwater marshes found along Lake Erie and Lake Huron. They are found in Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario with historical populations also occurring in New York (extirpated). The Eastern Fox Snake is considered threatened over most of its range due to habitat loss and collection for the pet trade. The complete status of this species is unknown at this time.

Rough Green Snake

Rough Green Snake by soulsurvivor08

The Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) is a non-venomous North American snake. It is sometimes Grass Snake or Green Grass Snake, but these names are more commonly applied to the Smooth Green Snake, Opheodrys vernalis. (The European colubrid called Grass Snake is unrelated.) The Rough Green Snake is docile, often allowing close approach by humans, and seldomly bites.

The snake is bright green above and has a yellowish belly, affording it excellent camouflage in green vegetation. It grows up to 46 inches in length and is very thin. The Rough Green Snake ranges throughout the Southeastern United States, from Kansas and Texas east to New Jersey and south to Florida. It is absent from the higher elevations of the Appalachian Mountains.

It is also found in northeastern Mexico, including the state of Tamaulipas and eastern Nuevo León. Its preferred habitat is moist meadows and woodlands, often near water. It is highly arboreal, frequently found climbing in low vegetation, and is also a good swimmer. However it is often found on the ground as well. Unlike many snakes, it is largely diurnal. Its diet consists mostly of insects and other terrestrial arthropods, but some snails and tree frogs are eaten as well. This snake is not a constrictor--most prey are grabbed and simply swallowed alive.

Rough Green Snake by Arcadiareptiles

Predators of the Rough Green Snake include birds, spiders, and other snakes, such as the Eastern Racer, Coluber constrictor and the Eastern King snake, Lampropeltis getula.

The Rough Green Snake breeds in spring, and sometimes again in fall. Females lay 2-14 eggs, occasionally in a communal nest shared by more than one female. Up to 75 eggs have been found in one such nest. The nest site varies: under boards, under bark in rotting stumps, in deep mulch, or under a rock. Hatchlings from spring breeding typically emerge in August or September, and are about 7-8 inches in length.

The Rough Green Snake is widespread and is not of conservation concern, in general. However urban development, especially the reduction of vegetation near waterways, may reduce their numbers. Many are killed on roads, and they may be susceptible to poisoning by pesticides used on their insect prey.