Cottonmouth Head                                Cottonmouth Fangs
Photos courtesy Chuck Johns, Brewton, Alabama
Copyright (C) 2006 C. Johns

Identification: North American Wildlife, Susan J. Wernert, Editor, Page 179. A cottonmouth water moccasin attains a length of 2 to 6 feet. The body is stout; the head is flat, wider than the neck; the pit is in front of and just below the eyes; vertical pupils. The body back is plain or with wide, dark, ragged-edged crossbands (the young have vivid patterns and yellow tip on tail). The mouth is white on inside. Its preferred habit is swamps, slow streams, shallow lakes, ditches and rice fields.