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Copperhead

Agkistrodon contortrix

Photo by Mr. Chase
Published on Project Noah
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32.2504, -80.9471

Field Notes

Description:

Small sized snake about the size of a standard pencil.

Notes:

Note the yellow tail - indicating a young immature copperhead. These young snakes potentially harbor the most toxic venom.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (1)

Hi there, it is not true at all that "young snakes potentially harbor the most toxic venom". Young snakes have less potent venom that adults, and many young snakes of venomous species in the US don't even have the ability to kill an adult human. So even though young snakes don't have nearly as potent of venom as an adult, they haven't quite learned how to regulate it yet. An adult snake knows it is a waste of energy to give you all of its venom because it needs that for hunting. Young snakes just give you all their venom because they haven't learned that yet. Have a look at #8 on this page for more info: http://www.reptilechannel.com/media/kid-corner/beyond-beginners/bad-snake-myths-2.aspx.pdf
Photographed
PublishedOctober 13, 2014

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