Agkistrodon contortrix
North American Copperhead ( Agkistrodon contortrix )
The North American Copperhead ( Agkistrodon contortrix ) is with its five sub-species within the family of vipers ( Viperidae ) to the genus of the triangular head viper ( Agkistrodon ).
Description
The North American copper head reaches a length of about 90 centimeters, in rare cases up to 1.2 meters. His back has an ocher base color and is coated with copper-red transverse bands. The transverse bands are black edged. Its flat and triangular in shape head that sets it apart from the body. The head is colored brighter towards the sides. A white stripe runs from the eyes to the corners of the mouth. The muzzle is running towards the tip rather pointed. The pupils are slit vertically. Striking feature is its Lorealgruben, located between the eyes and nose and mouth are clearly visible. Lorealgruben are organs with which pit vipers ( Crotalinae ) can perceive differences in temperature.
The North American copper head is a crepuscular and nocturnal snake, the day stays in a hiding place. Burrows, stumps and rock piles are its natural retreat points. Depending on the area of distribution, the snake keeps a winter rest, which can take four to six months.
Subspecies
- Southern Copperhead ( Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix ) - large parts of the southern United States and northern Mexico
- Broadband Copperhead ( Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus ) - Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas
- Northern Copperhead ( Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen ) - large parts of the southern states
- Osage Copperhead ( Agkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster ) - Kansas, Missouri
- Trans - Pecos Copperhead ( Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster ) - Texas
Dissemination
The North American copper head is distributed with its sub-species in much of the southern United States and northern Mexico. Preference is given to sparse forests, wet meadows and mountain regions with altitudes of up to 1,000 meters. The North American copper head is occasionally also found in agricultural areas such as meadows and fields.
Food
The North American copperhead eats everything he can overwhelm. Its portfolio ranges from small mammals such as mice and rats, about birds, reptiles, amphibians to insects. The tail of the copper heads is conspicuously colored turquoise-green and is used as a worm imitation, to attract birds, for example.
Reproduction
In the wild, mating takes place in the months of April and May. The North American copper head is one of the egg - viviparous ( ovoviviparous ) snakes. Gestation lasts about 90 days. During the months of August and September hatch up to 17 young snakes that have a birth length of 20 to 25 cm. Shortly after birth, they shed their skin for the first time.
Poison
The venom of the North American copper head, a hemotoxin medium strength, is indeed very painful, but usually not fatal for an adult. Symptoms range from local pain nausea to vomiting.
Because of its toxicity of the copper head in the Appalachian Mountains is used for the ritual of Schlangenanfassens that practicing a few American Pentecostal churches.