Cottonmouth
The cottonmouth is a large, venomous pit viper that lives in the southeastern United States. It is one of the few vipers in the world that spends much of its life in water. Its bite is painful and can be fatal, so it is important to recognise it and give it plenty of space.1

Sådan genkender du det
- Adults commonly exceed 80 cm in total length, and it is the largest species in its genus.1
- Most adults are almost or totally black, with the head and facial markings as the main exceptions.1
- Younger snakes have dark crossbands on a lighter tan, brown or reddish-brown ground colour. The tail tip is yellowish in juveniles and black in adults.1
- Eastern populations have a broad, dark stripe running back from the eye along the side of the head.1
- When threatened it gapes, showing the white lining of its mouth.1
Forveksles ofte med: The copperhead is often confused with the cottonmouth, especially when young. The cottonmouth has a broad dark stripe on the side of the head, while the copperhead has only a thin dark line. Watersnakes of the genus Nerodia look similar, with thick bodies and large heads, but they have round pupils and no loreal pit.1
Giftkraft
Giften kommer ud gennem gifttænderne eller tænderne, når det bider.
Hvad gør dets gift, når det bider eller stikker?
The venom is rich in cytotoxic components that destroy tissue, and it is more toxic than the copperhead's venom. It does not contain the neurotoxic components found in many rattlesnakes, so it does not usually cause whole-body reactions. Symptoms commonly include bruising and swelling, and necrosis, or death of tissue, can occur.1
Hvor farligt er det for mennesker?
Fare for mennesker: AlvorligEt bid skal ses af en læge. Dødsfald er meget sjældne.Deaths are rare, but bites are relatively frequent in the lower Mississippi River Valley and along the Gulf of Mexico coast. A bite can leave scars and, on occasion, may require amputation. The pain is generally more severe than a copperhead bite but less than a rattlesnake bite. Stressed snakes, and larger snakes, are more likely to strike.1
Gode nyheder: Lægerne har en medicin (modgift) eller en behandling mod det.1
Hvad gør det, når det er bange?
When threatened it may coil its body, display its fangs and gape to show the white lining of its mouth. It often stands its ground rather than fleeing.1
Hvis det bider
- Bites can be effectively treated with CroFab antivenom.1
- Hold personen i ro og rolig, hold den bidte arm eller det bidte ben i hjertehøjde, tag ringe og stramme ting af, og kom hurtigt på hospitalet.
Ring altid først til dit alarmnummer (112, 000, 911). Dette er generel førstehjælpsvejledning, ikke lægelig rådgivning. Grundlæggende førstehjælp
Pas på dig selv
- Rør aldrig ved, fang eller dril et vildt dyr, heller ikke et lille et, og heller ikke hvis det ser ud til at sove eller være dødt.
- Giv det plads. Hvis du møder et, så bliv rolig, træd langsomt tilbage, og lad det gå sin egen vej.
- Hvis et bider dig: Bevar roen, hold dig i ro, ring til dit alarmnummer (112, 000, 911), eller kom hurtigt på hospitalet. Husk, hvordan det så ud, et billede hjælper.
Det er ikke ude efter dig. Det bruger sin gift til at fange føde eller beskytte sig selv, og det gemmer sig meget hellere. Mere om sikkerhed
Hvor stort er det?
Hvor langt er det?
Hvor tungt er det?
lige så lang som 4 huskatte fra snude til hale
lige så lang som 11 bananer på række
kunne løbe 100 meter på 100 sekunder (det hurtigste menneske skal bruge 9,6)Hvor stor er Cottonmouth i forhold til DIG?
Bare matematik i din browser. Intet bliver gemt eller sendt nogen steder hen.
Hvor hurtigt er det?
Fakta
Young snakes wiggle the tips of their tails to attract prey.1
It swims with its body near the surface and appears to float on top of the water.1
The average venom yield is about 125 mg dried, and the human lethal dose is unknown but has been estimated at 100 to 150 mg.1
It is one of the world's few semiaquatic vipers, and it is the most aquatic species in its genus.1
One researcher reported encountering these snakes on countless occasions, often almost stepping on them, without ever being bitten.1
Myteknuser
Myte: Any snake called a water moccasin is venomous.
Sandhed: The name water moccasin refers to the venomous cottonmouth. Many scientists dislike the name because it causes confusion with nonvenomous water snakes, which look similar.1
Hvor fakta kommer fra
- Agkistrodon piscivorus (Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0))
- Agkistrodon piscivorus (iNaturalist): navne og klassifikation.
- Venom Wiki: fareniveauet, den typiske størrelse og hastighedsgættet er vores egne. Se, hvordan vi regner dem ud: Sådan vurderer vi faren.
Hvert faktum på denne side har et nummer, der peger på kilden. Hvis vi har taget fejl, så undskyld, vi er dyrefans, ikke et videnskabeligt tidsskrift. Skriv til os på [email protected], så retter vi det.
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