Eastern Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Agkistrodon, Species: Agkistrodon contortrix
Eastern and Central United States, ranging from southern New England south to northern Florida, and west to the Mississippi River and parts of Texas.
Look up Eastern Copperhead in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Agkistrodon, Species: Agkistrodon contortrix
Conservation
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. Generally stable, though threatened locally by habitat fragmentation and intentional killing by humans.
Physical Description
Distinctive hourglass or Hershey's Kiss-shaped dark brown bands over a lighter tan or copper-pink ground color. The head is broad, triangular, and copper-colored with vertical pupils and heat-sensing pits between the eye and nostril. Scales are keeled.
Size & Dimensions
This specimen appears to be an adult, approximately 60-80 cm (2-2.6 ft). Typical adults range from 61 to 91 cm (24-36 inches), with record lengths around 135 cm (53 inches).
Habitat
Generalist species found in deciduous forests, rocky hillsides, woodlots near water, and suburban edges. Common in leaf litter and near fallen logs from sea level to about 1,500 meters.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous generalist. Consumes rodents, cicadas, frogs, lizards, and small birds. Uses a combination of ambush (sit-and-wait) and active foraging.
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous (gives birth to live young). Litters typically range from 2 to 10 neonates born in late summer or early fall. Neonates have bright sulfur-yellow tail tips used for caudal luring.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. Generally stable, though threatened locally by habitat fragmentation and intentional killing by humans.
Cultural Significance
Frequently misunderstood and feared in American folklore. Ecologically vital for controlling rodent populations and serving as a host for diverse parasites and a food source for larger predators like Kingsnakes.
Notable Features
The 'Hershey's Kiss' profile of its lateral markings is a primary diagnostic feature. It is often encountered in suburban areas of the Eastern US due to its excellent camouflage.