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Project Noah Nature School
Agkistrodon contortrix
One of 10 young Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) we saw at night, 5 DOR (Dead on Road) /5 AOR (Alive on Road). All were <18 inches and of similar coloration as the photo posted above. Copperheads are fairly large – 24 - 40 in (61 - 102 cm), heavy-bodied snakes with large, triangular heads and elliptical pupils (cat eyes). The body is tan to brown with darker hourglass-shaped crossbands down the length of the body.
Open forest bordered by grasses. Copperheads are quite tolerant of habitat alteration and remain common in suburban areas of many large cities.
Females give live birth to 7 – 10 (up to 20) young in the late summer and probably only reproduce every other year. The young have bright yellow tail tips that they wiggle to attract prey such as frogs and lizards.
Spotted on Aug 3, 2012
Submitted on Aug 5, 2012
4 Comments
Thanks Rob. I am a herpetologist and work with snakes, so I am at ease with them, but always give them the respect the deserve. I can assure you that I am out of the strike zone. When I do need to manipulate one, I am using a hook, tongs or in the rare case I need more data or scale clips, special tubes that protect both me and the snake.
Hugo: Muchas gracias
S Frazier: Thanks
Nice!!
Que bonito ejemplar, felicidades por la imagen