Western cottonmouth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Western cottonmouth |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Agkistrodon |
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A. p. leucostoma
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| Trinomial name | |
| Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma (Troost, 1836)
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The Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma is a venomous snake that lives in the south central United States. It is often called the Western cottonmouth or water moccasin. This snake is part of the pit viper family. It is the smallest of the three types of Agkistrodon piscivorus snakes.
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About the Western Cottonmouth
The Western cottonmouth is a strong, thick snake. It is the smallest of the three cottonmouth types. Adult snakes are usually about 27.5 inches (69.9 cm) long. The longest one ever found was about 62 inches (157.5 cm) long.
This snake is usually dark gray or brown. It often has few or no markings. Some snakes might have 10 to 15 dark bands across their back. As the snake gets older, its color gets darker. Very old snakes can look completely black.
The Western cottonmouth usually does not have a light line near its dark cheek stripe. This is different from the other two types of cottonmouths. Its scales on the back have a ridge down the middle, which makes them feel rough. There are 25 rows of these scales near the middle of its body. The scale covering its vent (a snake's opening) is one piece.
The snake's head is wide and flat. It is much wider than its neck. Its eyes have pupils shaped like a cat's eye. During the day, the pupil looks like a narrow slit. At night, it opens wide and can even look round.
How It Behaves
When this snake feels scared, it opens its mouth very wide. This shows the white inside of its mouth. This white color looks like cotton, which is why it is called the "cottonmouth."
Other Names for This Snake
People call the Western cottonmouth by many names. Some of these names are:
- Western cottonmouth
- Water moccasin
- Cottonmouth
- Black moccasin
- Blunt-tail moccasin
- Northern cottonmouth moccasin
- Stump-tail water moccasin
- Viper
- Cotton-mouthed snake
- Congo snake
- Trap-jaw
- Gapper
Where the Western Cottonmouth Lives
You can find the Western cottonmouth in the United States. It lives from southern Alabama along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. This includes many islands off the coast. It also lives in southeastern and central Texas. You can find it north into Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, southeastern Nebraska, and western Kentucky.
