Genus/Species
See also genus Gloydius and Hypnale
Species
- 1. Agkistrodon bilineatus
- 2. Agkistrodon contortrix
- 3. Agkistrodon piscivorus
- 4. Agkistrodon taylori
A. taylori was previously considered a subspecies of A. bilineatus.
Taxonomy
Common names
Moccasins, Dreiecksköpfe
- 1. Tropical moccasin, Cantil, Mexikanische Mokassinschlange
- 2. American copperhead, Kupferkopf
- 3. Cottonmouth, Water moccasin, Wassermokassinschlange
- 4. Mexican moccasin, Taylor's cantil
Fig. 4.70 Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen.
Distribution
USA, Mexico and Central America. See link "Distribution" at the top of the page for detailed information. Map 52 Agkistrodon spp.
Biology
Sturdy to slender body. Head clearly distinct from the body, triangular and flat. Pointed snout. A. piscivorus is the largest species with a length of up to 1.8 m.
Markings generally consist of dark cross bands on a lighter, grey to brown background. Uniformly black individuals are found in the A. piscivorus species.
Habitats: A. bilineatus in dry forests and savannas, A. contortrix primarily in deciduous forests. A. piscivorus is a semi-aquatic species found in bodies of water or swamps.
Active during the day in warm weather, and nocturnal in cooler weather. Species that live in northern and cold regions hibernate during the winter months.
With the exception of A. piscivorus, moccasins try to flee when in danger. If unsuccessful, they flatten their bodies and rapidly vibrate the tip of their tails as warning behaviour. A. piscivorus reacts very aggressively when threatened and also opens its mouth wide, so that the white interior of the mouth becomes visible.
Risk
Fatalities very rare, but morbidity high. The most dangerous species is A. piscivorus, which is a fairly frequent cause of bites in the lower Mississippi valley and along the Gulf Coast (USA) (Minton et al. 1965). A. contortrix is responsible for the majority of venomous snakebites in the USA, but most result in only local symptoms.
Literature (biological)
Bolanos 1984, Campbell and Lamar 1989, 2004, Gloyd and Conant 1989, Minton and Rutherford-Minton 1969, Russell 1983, Toriba 1990b, Toriba and Sawai 1990, Zhao 1990