The snake's diet consists of fish, small mammals, birds and amphibians reptiles such as lizards, baby alligators and turtles and other snakes, including smaller water moccasins. What do water moccasins eat?Ī water moccasin eats a bullfrog. Their markings vary considerably, and the subspecies can interbreed where their ranges overlap. Identifying the different subspecies is difficult. These are Florida cottonmouths ( Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti), found throughout Florida western cottonmouths ( Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma), found in Indiana, Illinois, Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas and eastern cottonmouths ( Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus), found in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. There are three subspecies of cottonmouth recognized by the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). They can be found basking in the sun during the day on rocks, logs and stumps, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. They primarily live in aquatic and wetland habitats, including swamps, marshes, drainage ditches, ponds, lakes and streams.Ĭottonmouths can be seen year-round during the day and at night, but they primarily hunt after dark, especially in the summer, according to the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. Where do cottonmouths live?Ĭottonmouths range from southeastern Virginia to Florida, west to central Texas and north to southern Illinois and Indiana, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Water MoccasinĬottonmouth and water moccasin are interchangeable terms for the venomous water snake. (Image credit: kristianbell via Getty Images) Cottonmouth vs. Young cottonmouth snakes have striking patterns that fade with age. The striking patterns present on the juveniles fades with age. 'They undulate the tail tip slowly back and forth to lure prey, such as frogs, within striking distance,' Viernum said. Juveniles also have bright-yellow tail tips that they use as lure to attract prey. Juvenile cottonmouths have more distinctive bands across their bodies and are lighter brown compared with adult cottonmouths. Trying to kill a snake greatly increases the risk of being bitten by one, according to the University of Florida. A water snake's head will also still be a similar width to the neck, even when flattened. A water snake's flattened head will look more triangular in shape, but not blocky and thick, like a cottonmouth's head. This flattening makes them look more like cottonmouths. When threatened, nonvenomous water snakes, such as northern water snakes ( Nerodia sipedon) and southern water snakes ( Nerodia fasciata), often try to appear bigger than they are by flattening their bodies and heads.

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