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

Como recoñecelo
- 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
Adoita confundirse con: 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
Poder da pezoña
A pezoña sae polos seus cairos ou dentes cando morde.
Que fai a súa pezoña?
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
Que perigoso é para as persoas?
Perigo para as persoas: GraveUnha mordedura precisa un médico. As mortes son moi raras.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
Boas novas: os médicos teñen un medicamento (antiveleno) ou un tratamento para isto.1
Que fai cando ten medo?
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
Se morde
- Bites can be effectively treated with CroFab antivenom.1
- Mantén a persoa quieta e tranquila, mantén o membro mordido á altura do corazón, quítalle aneis e cousas apertadas e vai rápido a un hospital.
Chama sempre primeiro ao teu número de emerxencias (112, 000, 911). Isto son consellos xerais de primeiros auxilios, non consello médico. Primeiros auxilios básicos
Mantente a salvo
- Nunca toques, collas nin molestes un animal salvaxe, aínda que sexa pequeno e aínda que pareza durmido ou morto.
- Déixalle espazo. Se atopas un, mantén a calma, recúa amodo e déixao ir polo seu camiño.
- Se un te morde: mantén a calma, non te movas, chama ao teu número de emerxencias (112, 000, 911) ou vai rápido a un hospital. Lembra como era, unha foto axuda.
Non vai a por ti. Usa a súa pezoña para cazar comida ou para defenderse, e prefire con moito agocharse. Máis sobre como estar a salvo
En que lugar do mundo?
Que tamaño ten?
Canto mide?
Canto pesa?
mide coma 4 gatos domésticos do fociño á cola
mide coma 11 bananas postas en fila
podería percorrer 100 metros en 100 segundos (o humano máis rápido precisa 9,6)Que tamaño ten Cottonmouth comparado CONTIGO?
Só son contas no teu navegador. Non se garda nin se envía nada a ningures.
Que rápido é?
Datos
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
Desmontamitos
Mito: Any snake called a water moccasin is venomous.
Verdade: 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
De onde veñen os datos
- Agkistrodon piscivorus (Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0))
- Agkistrodon piscivorus (iNaturalist): nomes e clasificación.
- Venom Wiki: o nivel de perigo, o tamaño típico e a velocidade estimada son nosos. Mira como os calculamos: Como valoramos o perigo.
Cada dato desta páxina ten un número que leva á súa fonte. Se nos equivocamos nalgo, sentímolo, somos fans dos animais, non unha revista científica. Dínolo en [email protected] e arranxarémolo.
Morde
