Copperheads Regions and Size : Copperheads are a group of N. American pitvipers in the complex of Agkistrodon. This also includes Cottonmouths, Cantils, and a few other species which are not found in N. America. I will not discuss those as this is Copperhead info. But if you wish you can contact me and I will tell you who can give you the info. Copperheads are found all the way from TX to N.FL and up to Southern NY. Click Here for a pic of a map showing their range. They grow to be about 2-3ft. long, though the record is 52in. They have eyes with vertically eliptical pupils like a cats.
Coloration : For Examples of The Individual Coloration of Each Species Go To The Species Photo Link at The Bottom of This Page.
Body/Background : Brownish-tan, tan, or tan w/pink, bronze/copper colored
Bands/Markings : Hourglass shaped or broken hourglass(forming a staggered or partially staggered)pattern.Color of these markings can range from deep copper to chocolate brown or dark reddish-brown. Usually a cream colored outline surrounds these bands. Also a patch of lighter coloration usually similar to the body color is in the middle of the sides of the bands. This really makes it look like an hourglass. There are black blotches on the ventral o(belly) scales.
Head Coloration : Copper,Bronze,Brown,Orange,or sometimes Yellow.
Tails : The young have green or yellow tails which they flick like a worm to attract prey (this is called "Caudal Luring"). This coloring later darkens to a dark brown or charcoal with age.
Diet : Food includes rodents,lizards, frogs, toads,& cicadas. The young will sit and wait using caudal luring (discussed above) to wait for an unsuspecting and curious prey item to come along. Such as a frog hopping up hoping to get a nice worm for a meal and ends up a meal himself. The adults do not use this (since their tails have become darkly colored). But will either sit and wait to ambush their prey or sometimes will go out and actively seek it. They use scent which they pick up with their tounges. They do not smell through their noses. They then stick their tounge into an organ at the roof of their mouth called the Jacobsens organ. This is how they smell. They also do not have ears. But they can feel vibrations through their bellies. When encountering a prey item they also use the pits (hince the name Pitviper) on their face (located between the eye and the nostril) to zero in. These pits detect heat changes within a fraction of a degree. This helps them determine where the animal is against the cooler background. This is a very big help for the snakes as their eyesight is not all that good and because they do a lot of their hunting at night.
Terrain, Photoperiods, and Breeding : Copperheads can usually be found in forests especially near rocky hillsides, fields, roads basking themselves,etc. They are nocturnal during the hot Summer months but become diurnal as well during Spring and early Fall.They brumate(hibernate)during winter in dens. They will den up with other snakes too during this time including Rattlesnakes and other non-venomous snakes. They awaken in spring and breeding occurs at this time. The males during this time will fight over females. They will lift the front half of their body and "wrestle". Twisting around and pushing each other. The larger one wins...and also gets the female. They do not bite each other during these fights. But even if they were they are immune to their own venom. Although the fangs piercing through into their organs would most likely result in eventual death. The young (called Neonates) are born live in the summer or early fall. The number of neonates (babies) born is usually between 4 and 14. They are born fully functional. Fangs venom and all.
Venom : Copperheads are venomous snakes. There are no poisonous snakes. The difference is that poison is ingested, and venom is injected. Venom is a mix of certain proteins. It is used to help subdue the prey and to aid in digestion. Copperheads have Hemotoxic venom which means that it breaks down tissues and blood cells. This venom is injected through enlarged hollow teeth called fangs. These fangs are attached to venom glands which squeeze the venom out. Through the fangs and into the prey item or threat. Pitvipers can control the amount of venom they inject. And often when striking something which is threatning them. They will give what is known as a "dry bite". In which no venom is injected. Copperheads are Solenoglyphous. Which means that their fangs are capable of being pivoted independantly. This style of fang is found in all Vipers and PitVipers. When the fangs are not in use they are folded back along the upper jaw. For a good example of what a hemotoxic venom can do. Follow the link from the Bio page. Note the pic where the guys hand looks like he dipped it in battery acid and gasoline then lit it on fire. I'm sure you'll know which one I'm talking about.
Any Questions ? If you have any questions you can E-Mail me from the Pics page. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for visiting my site, and remember it will continue to get better. So come back and see what's new!!!
