Cottonmouth

Agkistrodon piscivorus

There are three subspecies of Cottonmouth: Western (leucostoma), Eastern (piscivorus), and Florida (conanti). I have photographed all three.

 

 

Western (leucostoma):

 

First view, Snake Road, Shawnee National Forest, Union County, Illinois, 3 May 2014.

 

Another view, Snake Road, Shawnee National Forest, Union County, Illinois, 4 May 2014.

 

Another view, Snake Road, Shawnee National Forest, Union County, Illinois, 25 April 2015; note eponymous mouth.

 

Another view, Snake Road, Shawnee National Forest, Union County, Illinois, 25 April 2015; well camouflaged in the brush.

 

Another view, note the yellow tail of this young snake; Snake Road, Shawnee National Forest, Union County, Illinois, 4 May 2014 (photo taken at dusk, hence, its dull colors); here is another photo of this snake.

 

Another view, Big Hill Pond State Park, McNairy County, Tennessee, 10 August 2014; here is a close-up of this snakeճ head.

 

Another view, Snake Road, Union County, Illinois, 11 August 2014; note the snakeճ tongue.

 

Another view, Snake Road, Shawnee National Forest, Union County, Illinois, 25 April 2015.

 

Here is a link to a some shots of a struggle between a Western Cottonmouth and a Black Ratsnake.

 

 

 

Eastern (piscivorus):

 

First view, near Ramp 44, Hatteras, North Carolina, 7 June 2011. Here is another view of this snake, and here is another.

 

 

 

Florida (conanti):

 

First view, Loop Road, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, 28 December 2014.

 

Another view, Everglades National Park, Florida, August 2023.

 

Another view, Loop Road, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, 28 December 2014; here is another view of this snake.

 

Another view, note the yellow tail of this young snake; Everglades National Park, Florida, 29 December 2014.