Copperhead Snake
Copperhead snakes are medium-sized venomous snakes found in Eastern North America. They are pit vipers and five subspecies have been recognized so far. The females are usually longer than males.
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Subphylum | Vertebrata |
Class | Reptilia |
Order | Squamata |
Suborder | Serpentes |
Family | Viperidae |
Subfamily | Crotalinae |
Genus | Agkistrodon |
Scientific Name | Agkistrodon contortrix |
Other Names | Chunk Head, Highland Moccasin, (dry-land) Moccasin, Narrow-banded Copperhead, Northern Copperhead, Poplar Leaf, Red Oak, Pilot Snake, Southeastern Copperhead, Red Snake, White Oak Snake, American Copperhead, Southern Copperhead |
Length | 50–95 cm (20–37 in) |
Color | Pale-tan to pinkish-tan ground color, covered with 10 to 18 light tan to pinkish tan to pale brown cross-bands with darker edges; some parts of the belly may be whitish; the flanks have a series of dark brown spots |
Distribution | Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia (United States), Chihuahua and Coahuila (Mexico) |
Habitat | Deciduous forest, mixed woodlands, rock outcroppings and ledges, low-lying swampy regions, also occur in coniferous forests, riparian habitats, dry arroyos |
Diet | Primarily feed on small rodents like mice and voles, also large insects and frogs |
Hibernation Fact | Hibernates during the winter months in dens, limestone crevices, often with other snake species |
Predators | Owls, hawks, opossums, raccoons |
Venom Fact | Relatively mild |
Breeding Season | February to May and from end of August to October |
Mode of Reproduction | Viviparous (giving birth to live young) |
Gestation period | Around 3 months |
Litter Size | 2 to 18 |
Reproductive Age | 3 to 4 years of age |
Average Lifespan | Maximum in the wild: 30 years; average is much less as only five percent lived more than eight years of age |
IUCN Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Copperhead Snake Pictures Gallery
Published on September 7th 2016 by staff under Snakes. Article was last reviewed on 14th September 2023.
Nice photos! Very helpful thank you!