Cottonmouth

Cottonmouths are pit vipers, meaning the snake has a heat-sensing pit organ located between the eye and the nostril on both sides of the head.

Cottonmouth, NPS/Doggrell

Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Agkistrodon piscivorus
Distribution/Habitat: Swamps, river floodplains, and wetlands in the southeastern United States.
Average Size: 4 feet
Average Lifespan: 15-20 years
Diet: Amphibians, snakes, small reptiles, mammals, birds, and fish.

Did You Know?

The name cottonmouth comes from the white mouth the snake displays when it feels threatened.