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

Jinsi ya kumtambua
- 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
Mara nyingi huchanganywa na: 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
Nguvu ya sumu
Sumu hutoka kupitia meno yake ya sumu au meno anapouma.
Sumu yake hufanya nini?
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
Ana hatari gani kwa watu?
Hatari kwa watu: MbayaKuumwa kunahitaji daktari. Vifo ni nadra sana.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
Habari njema: madaktari wana dawa (ya kuzuia sumu) au matibabu ya hili.1
Hufanya nini akiogopa?
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
Akiuma
- Bites can be effectively treated with CroFab antivenom.1
- Mweke mtu bila kutikisika na mtulivu, weka kiungo kilichoumwa usawa wa moyo, ondoa pete na vitu vinavyobana, na umpeleke hospitali haraka.
Daima piga namba ya dharura kwanza (112, 000, 911). Huu ni mwongozo wa jumla wa huduma ya kwanza, si ushauri wa kitabibu. Misingi ya huduma ya kwanza
Kaa salama
- Kamwe usimguse, kumkamata wala kumchokoza mnyama wa porini, hata akiwa mdogo, na hata akionekana amelala au amekufa.
- Mpe nafasi. Ukikutana naye, tulia, rudi nyuma polepole na umwache aende zake.
- Akikuuma: tulia, usitikisike, piga namba yako ya dharura (112, 000, 911) au nenda hospitali haraka. Kumbuka alivyoonekana, picha husaidia.
Hakuwindi wewe. Hutumia sumu yake kukamata chakula au kujilinda, na hupendelea zaidi kujificha. Zaidi kuhusu kukaa salama
Ana ukubwa gani?
Ana urefu gani?
Ana uzito gani?
urefu sawa na paka wa nyumbani 4 kutoka pua hadi mkia
urefu sawa na ndizi 11 zilizopangwa mstari
angeweza kukimbia mita 100 kwa sekunde 100 (binadamu mwenye kasi zaidi anahitaji 9.6)Cottonmouth ana ukubwa gani ukilinganisha na WEWE?
Ni hesabu tu kwenye kivinjari chako. Hakuna kinachohifadhiwa wala kutumwa popote.
Ana kasi gani?
Ukweli
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
Kuvunja dhana potofu
Dhana potofu: Any snake called a water moccasin is venomous.
Ukweli: 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
Ukweli unatoka wapi
- Agkistrodon piscivorus (Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0))
- Agkistrodon piscivorus (iNaturalist): majina na uainishaji.
- Venom Wiki: kiwango cha hatari, ukubwa wa kawaida na makadirio ya kasi ni yetu wenyewe. Ona jinsi tunavyovipata: Jinsi tunavyopima hatari.
Kila ukweli kwenye ukurasa huu una namba inayoonyesha chanzo chake. Kama tumekosea kitu, samahani, sisi ni wapenzi wa wanyama, si jarida la kisayansi. Tuambie kupitia [email protected] nasi tutarekebisha.
Kuumwa
