第 0450 号，共 1 402 张

Cottonmouth

Agkistrodon piscivorus

名字的由来： The scientific name translates from Greek and Latin as "hook-toothed fish-eater".1

需要看医生很少致命，但被咬了要去看医生。

蝮蛇

咬伤吃：鱼类

对人的危险: 严重被咬了要去看医生。死亡非常罕见。

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

生活在

Southeastern United States, from southeast Virginia south through the Florida peninsula and west to Arkansas and Oklahoma1

北美洲

首页

It is usually found in or near water, especially slow-moving, shallow lakes, streams, swamps and marshes. It also enters bays and estuaries and swims between barrier islands and the mainland.1

长度

65 cm到1.9 m (2.1 ft到6.2 ft)1

体重

201 g到580 g (7 oz到1.3 lb)1

最高速度

约 3.6 公里/小时（2.2 英里/小时）

在陆地上, 粗略估计

它吃什么？

Its name means fish-eater. Young snakes wiggle the tips of their tails to lure prey animals.1

Cottonmouth的照片 — Cottonmouth。照片：kirk gardner。 CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist.

怎样认出它

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

常被误认为： 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

毒液之力

咬伤

它咬的时候，毒液通过毒牙或牙齿出来。

它的毒液会造成什么？

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

它对人有多危险？

对人的危险: 严重被咬了要去看医生。死亡非常罕见。

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

好消息：医生有药（抗毒血清）或治疗方法。1

它害怕时会做什么？

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

如果它咬人

Bites can be effectively treated with CroFab antivenom.1
让人保持安静不动，被咬的肢体与心脏保持同一高度，摘下戒指和紧身物品，尽快送医院。

一定先拨打你的急救电话（112、000、911）。这里是一般急救指导，不是医疗建议。急救基础

注意安全

永远不要摸、抓或逗弄野生动物，即使是很小的，即使它看起来在睡觉或已经死了。
给它留出空间。如果遇到它，保持冷静，慢慢后退，让它走自己的路。
如果被它咬了：保持冷静，保持不动，拨打你的急救电话（112、000、911）或尽快去医院。记住它长什么样，拍张照片会有帮助。

它不是冲着你来的。它用毒液捕猎或保护自己，而且它更愿意躲起来。更多安全知识

在世界哪里？

非洲亚洲欧洲北美洲南美洲澳大利亚和大洋洲

它有多大？

它有多长？

它有多重？

和 5 根香蕉一样重

和 4 只家猫鼻子接尾巴一样长和 11 根香蕉首尾相接一样长100 秒就能跑完 100 米（最快的人需要 9.6 秒）

Cottonmouth和你比起来有多大？

只是在你的浏览器里算一算。什么都不会被保存或发送到任何地方。

它有多快？

一只陆龟 约 0.3 公里/小时 (0.19 mph)

Cottonmouth 约 3.6 公里/小时 (2.2 mph)

一个在走路的人 约 5 公里/小时 (3.1 mph)

值得了解

事实

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

谣言粉碎机

谣言： Any snake called a water moccasin is venomous.

真相： 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