Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Agkistrodon, Species: A. contortrix
Eastern and central North America, ranging from southern New England south to northern Florida, and west to Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Look up Copperhead in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Agkistrodon, Species: A. contortrix
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, due to its wide distribution, presumed large population, and tolerance of habitat modification.
Physical Description
Robust body with a distinctive broad, triangular head. Coloration consists of pale pinkish, tan, or copper-brown background overlaid with darker, hourglass-shaped or dumbbell-shaped crossbands that are wider at the sides and narrow along the back. Scales are heavily keeled.
Size & Dimensions
Adult specimen pictured is estimated at 60-90 cm. Typical adult size ranges from 50 to 95 cm, with maximum recorded lengths exceeding 130 cm.
Habitat
Deciduous forests, mixed woodlands, rocky hillsides, swamp edges, and disturbed habitats. Prefers areas with abundant ground cover such as leaf litter, fallen logs, and rocky outcrops.
Diet & Feeding
Predominantly carnivorous, feeding on small rodents, lizards, small birds, frogs, and large insects such as cicadas. Utilizes an ambush hunting strategy, lying motionless in leaf litter and waiting for passing prey.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives live birth). Mating typically occurs in late summer or autumn, sometimes in spring. Females give birth to litters ranging from 1 to 21 young, averaging around 4 to 7, usually in late summer or early autumn.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, due to its wide distribution, presumed large population, and tolerance of habitat modification.
Cultural Significance
Plays an important ecological role in controlling rodent and small mammal populations within its range. Often encounters humans due to habitat overlap, leading to caution and management in suburban areas.
Notable Features
Features heat-sensing pits located between the eye and nostril on each side of the head, allowing it to detect thermal signatures of warm-blooded prey in low-light conditions.