snake species pit found southeastern united_states adults large capable delivering painful potentially fatal bite stand ground bodies displaying aggression exaggerated individuals bite feeling threatened handled world usually found near water particularly slow moving shallow lakes streams marshes snake strong swimmer enter sea successfully islands atlantic gulf coasts generic derived greek words hooked tooth specific comes latin fish eat scientific translates hooked tooth fish common names include variants water swamp black simply common names refer threat display species stand ground exposing white lining mouth subspecies currently recognized including nominate subspecies described description largest species genus adults commonly exceed length females grow smaller males total length study adults average body mass found males females occasionally individuals exceed length especially eastern range according largest recorded specimen length based specimen caught dismal swamp region given noted snake apparently injured capture died days later measured straight relaxed large specimens extremely mass specimen approximately length known attain broad head distinct neck snout blunt profile rim head extending forwards slightly mouth substantial plates present plates fragmented especially rear scale absent rows dorsal scales dorsal scale rows scale rows weak males females ventral scales number divided majority specimens totally black exception head facial markings color pattern consist brown gray tan yellowish olive ground color series dark brown black usually black edges broken dorsal form series body visibly lighter center matching ground color contain irregular dark markings extend ventral scales dorsal banding pattern fades age older individuals uniform olive brown grayish brown black belly white yellowish white tan marked dark spots darker dark pigment belly varies virtually completely black head uniform brown color especially specimens exhibit kind dark spots characteristic visible adults eastern populations broad dark stripe bordered pale pigment faint absent western populations underside head generally whitish cream tan juvenile specimens generally contrasting color pattern dark lighter ground color ground color tan brown reddish brown tip tail usually yellowish greenish yellow greenish black adults juveniles banding pattern seen tail young snakes tip tail lure prey animals species confused especially true juveniles differences broad dark stripes sides head extend eye thin dark line divides pale somewhat darker color head genus similar appearance thick bodied large heads round pupils pit single anal plate scales divided distinctive overall color pattern common names list common names refer species black water black snake water worm tailed water cotton snake snake water north american water water geographic range species found eastern southeast virginia south florida peninsula west arkansas eastern southern oklahoma western southern georgia excluding lake lake records exist species found texas thought represent populations possibly type locality given proposed restricted area charleston south_carolina campbell mentioned species found alabama arkansas florida georgia illinois indiana kentucky louisiana mississippi missouri north_carolina oklahoma south_carolina texas virginia maps provided campbell wright wright indicate presence western extreme southeastern kansas limit western kentucky georgia found southern half state kilometers north fall line exceptions range includes far north southern illinois inhabits barrier islands coasts states found conservation status species classified concern iucn red list threatened species species listed wide distribution presumed large population unlikely declining fast qualify listing threatened category assessed population trend stable constant persecution species drainage wetland habitat prior development taken heavy toll local populations despite remains common species areas indiana listed endangered species habitat aquatic species genus usually associated bodies water creeks streams marshes swamps shores ponds lakes describes inhabiting swamps shallow lakes sluggish streams usually found swift deep cool water king list habitats including lowland swamps lakes rivers irrigation ditches canals rice fields small clear rocky mountain streams found water habitats seen swimming successful atlantic gulf coast barrier islands islands tends favor freshwater marshes study describes particularly salt tolerant snake limited aquatic habitats mentioned large specimens found mile water locations species adapted moist environments pine forest pine woods pine florida eastern deciduous forest beach areas forest behavior snakes greatly exaggerated tests designed measure responses wild specimens encounters people tried escape resorted threat displays defensive tactics picked mechanical hand likely bite sufficiently stressed threatened species engages characteristic threat display includes tail throwing head mouth open display startling white interior making loud neck body pulled shaped position common names including refer behavior habit snapping jaws shut touches mouth earned trap jaw areas defensive responses include body strong anal located base tail ejected thin jets snake sufficiently agitated restrained smell likened billy goat genus common flood plain penetrating odor harmless genus mistaken thick bodied snakes large heads aggressive provoked behave differently example usually flee quickly water stands ground threat display addition tails excited usually holds head angle swimming crawling brown considered heavy muscular bodies striking characteristic stating difficult hold venom extraction owing strength species active day night bright sunny days usually found stretched shade morning cool days seen sunlight emerge sunset warm warm ground roads active night usually found swimming crawling contrary popular belief capable biting underwater north winter months observations georgia noted species seek shelter found active heavy point moved higher ground found rotting pine stumps tearing away bark snakes active discovery attempt deeply soft wood escape nearest water southeastern virginia wood reported seeing migratory behavior late october early november period days individuals seen swimming bay swamps barrier islands mainland suggested habits southern parts range short omitted altogether feeding described species diet includes mammals birds amphibians fish snakes small turtles small reported normally bulk diet consists fish frogs occasion juvenile specimens feed invertebrates eaten sharp spines cause injuries genus apparently avoided authors described prey items taken natural circumstances fish frogs common prey eat small campbell provided list species reportedly preyed including land pike bass eastern brook eastern northern cricket frogs west indian true frogs green eastern glass ground snakes snakes regina brown snakes common snapping turtles mud turtles common turtles florida eastern box turtles florida turtles baby american wood cardinals unidentified small ducks juvenile common glossy eggs eggs billed short tailed southeastern eastern rice rats pocket mice black rats rabbits bats fish captured shallow water usually bank logs advantage bodies water begin dry summer early fall gorge resulting high concentrations fish study found surprisingly unsuccessful seizing live dead fish underwater eat campbell described having seen feeding fish heads thrown water dock reported occasion individual seen feeding remains feral thrown gave detailed account feeding behavior captive specimen south_carolina prey introduced snake quickly attack frogs small birds seized held movement stopped larger prey approached cautious manner rapid strike executed snake withdraw years snake accepted species frogs including large spotted water snakes snakes young rats species mice described captive specimen ate members species keeping embedded victims young individuals yellowish greenish tail tips engage caudal tail tip lure prey frogs striking distance observed captive specimens exhibiting behavior hours suggests daytime activity predators snakes preyed snapping turtles american eagles red hawks large birds cranes preyed snakes including species described inch specimen killed eaten inch captive hand reported captive attack successfully repelled body blows called body specific defensive behavior snakes observed certain species involves raising section middle body ground varying heights raised loop held position varying amounts time shifted position moved attacker case flipped thrown vigorously direction loop raised belly facing attacker reproduction species females giving birth live young possibly litters common length excluding largest smallest weather conditions favorable food readily available growth rapid females reproduce years age total length little young born august september mating occur warmer months year certain parts range early account described pair berlin garden january discovered cage july year young length thick shed time weeks accepted small frogs fish combat behavior males reported number occasions similar form seen species important factor sexual selection allows establishment recognition dominance males compete access sexually active females accounts exist describe females defending newly born litters reported cases females found near young stood ground considered examples guarding behavior case described card female found entrance chamber seven crawling young moved short distance chamber agitated faced eventually offspring retreated chamber female remained entrance ready strike natural form reproduction growth development embryos occur reproduce capable switching sexual mode reproduction mode type likely occurs terminal fusion process terminal products fuse form figure process leads wide expression developmental failure depression captive born wild born appear capable form venom venom toxic rich tissue destructive powerful venom destroys tissue deaths rare bite leave occasion require absent reaction individual venom cause reactions victims contain components present numerous species bites effectively treated derived venom components species american pit eastern western bites relatively frequent lower coast gulf_of_mexico fatalities rare allen compiled record bites state florida newspaper accounts data bites fatalities fatalities recorded year wright wright report having encountered snakes countless occasions stepping addition heard reports bites swamp entire summer accounts suggest species particularly aggressive brown gave average venom yield dried range values described specimen yielded venom extraction weeks later grams dried venom symptoms commonly include swelling pain generally severe bites formation common bites occur reported hand navy states venom strong activity lead severe tissue destruction subspecies
Agkistrodon piscivorus