Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Family
Viperidae
Copperhead
Range
Eastern United States to the central and southern states
Size
Length: Avg. 30 in
Habitat
Prefer terrestrial to semi-aquatic habitats, which include rocky-forested hillsides and various wetlands
Young
Avg. 2 - 10
Gestation: 3 - 9 months
Diet
Mostly mice but also small birds, lizards, small snakes, amphibians, and insects (especially cicadas)
IUCN Status
Least Concern
The copperhead's bite is seldom fatal because of its short fangs and small amount of venom.
The fangs are replaced periodically, with each snake having a series of five to seven replacement fangs in the gums behind and above the current functional fang.
Beyond the Bite
This venomous snake has heat-sensing "pits" located between the eyes and nostrils. Sometimes when touched, they emit a musk that smells like cucumbers.
Social Snakes
These social snakes may hibernate in a communal den with other copperheads or other species of snakes including timber rattlesnakes and black rat snakes.
Functional Fangs at Birth
Newborn copperheads have fully functional fangs that are capable of injecting venom that is just as toxic as adult venom.