The water moccasin, North America's only venomous water snake, has a distinctive blocky, triangular head; a thick body; and a dangerous bite. Water moccasins rarely water makinson snake humans, however, and only attack when threatened. They are semiaquatic, so they're happy both swimming in water and basking on land in their native range in the southeastern United States. Other local names include black moccasin, gaper, mangrove rattler, snap jaw, stub-tail snake, swamp lion, trap jaw, water mamba and water pilot. Water moccasins are pit vipers, like copperheads and rattlesnakes. These pits are able to detect minute differences in temperatures so that the snake can accurately strike the source of heat, which is often potential prey. Characteristics Water moccasins are relatively large, often ranging from 2 to 4 feet 61 to 122 centimeters long, according to the. Water moccasins have dark stripes by each nostril and pale snouts, which can be helpful in identifying features. Water moccasins' are distinct from their thinner necks, unlike many other snakes that have no distinctive neck, according to the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida. Their thick, muscular bodies are stout for their length and are covered in keeled, or ridged, scales. Their coloration varies from dark brown or black to olive, banded brown or yellow. Water makinson snake bellies are paler than their backs. Young cottonmouth snakes have striking patterns that fade with age. Credit: Shutterstock Young water moccasins look different than adults. Their patterns, which can be striking, fade or are lost as they age. Viernum described another interesting characteristic of juvenile cottonmouths. They undulate the tail tip slowly back and forth to lure prey, such as frogs, within striking distance. According to the Virginia Herpetological Society, one such species is the northern water snake Nerodia sipedon. It looks similar, but the crossbands on the back of the snake do not widen at the ends. Another snake often mistaken for the cottonmouth is the nonvenomous brown water snake Nerodia taxispilotawhich has most of its body below the water when in motion and only the head showing when it's motionless, unlike the cottonmouth, whose entire body is on the surface of the water. Water moccasins may be found swimming in swamps, marshes, drainage ditches, and at the edges of ponds, lakes and streams. On land, they're found near water and fields. They like to sun themselves on branches, stones and logs near the water's edge. Basking keeps up their body temperature, which chills quickly in water, according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Habits Water moccasins swim close to the top of the water, with their heads out. According to the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, they can be seen year-round, both during the day and at night, but they primarily hunt after dark, especially in the water makinson snake. Water moccasins eat fish; small mammals; birds; amphibians; reptiles such as lizards, baby alligators and turtles; and other snakes, including smaller water moccasins. A water moccasin eats a bullfrog. 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. Credit: Shutterstock Water moccasins mate in spring. According to theduring the mating process, males slither around, waving their tails in an attempt to lure the females away from other suitors. The males also fight each other. Water moccasins are ovoviviparous, which means that eggs incubate inside the mother's body. Females give birth to live young every two to three years, in litters of about 10 to 20 babies. The gestation period lasts three to four months. Babies are born brightly colored and take off on their own as soon as they're born. Parents do not care for them. They will, however, stand their ground, unlike many nonvenomous water snakes that flee from threats, according to the. The white color can be a striking visible display, especially in older adults, whose body colors are dark brown to almost black … Exposing the white of the mouth serves as a warning signal to potential predators. The results can be serious or even deadly, though Viernum and other experts emphasize that fatalities are very rare. Anyone suffering from a water-moccasin bite should seek medical attention immediately. Jessie Szalay, Live Science Contributor Jessie Szalay is a contributing writer for Live Science. She covers animals, health and other general science topics. Her work has appeared in the Jewish Daily Forward, Water makinson snake Geographic Traveler — Intelligent Travel, Killing the Buddha, Waccamaw Journal and elsewhere. Jessie is finishing her master's degree in nonfiction writing at George Mason University and holds a bachelor of arts degree from Kenyon College. She lives in Washington, D.
