''Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen'' was formerly a
venomous
Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a ...
pit viper subspecies found in the eastern
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
. However, recent taxonomic changes do not recognize the northern copperhead (''A. c. mokasen'') as a valid taxon.
New taxonomy
The northern copperhead (''Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen'') was once classified as a subspecies of the copperhead (''Agkistrodon contortrix''). However,
DNA based studies published in 2008 and 2015, revealed no significant genetic difference between the northern copperhead (''Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen ''), the southern copperhead (''Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix'') and the Osage copperhead (''Agkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster''). The three subspecies were synonymized and elevated to one species, with the oldest published name, ''Agkistrodon contortrix '', having priority. The resulting taxonomy does not recognize the northern copperhead (''Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen'') as a valid taxon.
[Guiher TJ, Burbrink FT (2008). ''Demographic and phylogeographic histories of two venomous North American snakes of the genus Agkistrodon.'' Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 48: 543–553.][Burbrink, Frank T. and Timothy J. Guiher. 2014. ''Considering gene flow when using coalescent methods to delimit lineages of North American pitvipers of the genus Agkistrodon.']
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 173: 505–526
Several subsequent reviews and species accounts have followed and supported the revised taxonomy.
[Crother, B. I. ( editor). 2017. ''Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, 8th. edition.'' SSAR Herpetological Circular 43, 1–102 pp. (page 59) ][Powell, Robert, Roger Conant, and Joseph T. Collins. 2016. Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, 4th ed. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Co. New York. 494 pp. ][ Uetz P, Freed P, Aguilar R, Hošek J (editors) (2021). The Reptile Database]
Agkistrodon contortrix
(accessed 30 August 2021)
Description
The northern copperhead grows to a typical length of 61–91 cm (24–36 in), with a maximum of 135 cm (53 in).
[Conant R. 1975. ''A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Second Edition''. First published in 1958. Houghton Mifflin Company Boston. 429 pp. 48 plates. . (pbk.).]
The
dorsal scales are weakly
keeled. The
anal plate is single. The
subcaudals are single, at least anteriorly.
The color pattern consists of an hourglass pattern that runs the length of the body. From above, a series of dark chestnut crossbands looks narrow in the center and wider on the sides. Between the crossbands, small, dark spots are often present. Dark, rounded spots occur at the sides of the belly. The head is a copper-red color. Juvenile specimens are lighter in color, and have a yellow tail tip and a narrow dark line that runs through the eye that divides the darker head from the lighter-colored
labial scales.
Common names
Northern copperhead,
[ Gloyd HK, Conant R. 1990. ''Snakes of the Agkistrodon Complex: A Monographic Review''. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 614 pp. 52 plates. LCCN 89-50342. .] copperhead, resident copperhead, highland moccasin,
[ Wright AH, Wright AA. 1957. ''Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada''. Comstock Publishing Associates. (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. .] beech-leaf snake, chunk head, copper (adder), copper-bell, copper belly, copperhead moccasin, copperhead viper, copper snake, copper viper, deaf adder, deaf snake, harlequin snake, hazel head, North American copperhead snake, northern copperhead, pilot, poplar leaf, rattlesnake pilot, rattlesnake's mate, red adder, red eye, red snake, red viper, thunder snake, upland moccasin, white oak snake,
adder.
Geographic range
This subspecies is found in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
in
Washington D.C.,
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; ...
,
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the East Coast of the United States, Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography an ...
,
East Texas
East Texas is a broadly defined cultural, geographic, and ecological region in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Texas that comprises most of 41 counties. It is primarily divided into Northeast and Southeast Texas. Most of the region con ...
, southern
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Roc ...
, southern
Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th ...
, throughout
Mississippi
Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Mis ...
,
northern
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = " Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County
, LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham
, area_total_km2 = 135,7 ...
, northern
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to t ...
, northeast to
(which considers the
endangered,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
Hudson Valley region, the
Appalachian Mountain region and associated plateaus, also southwestern
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; (Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, Ma ...
.
No
type locality
Type locality may refer to:
* Type locality (biology)
* Type locality (geology)
See also
* Local (disambiguation)
* Locality (disambiguation)
{{disambiguation ...
was given.
Behavior
These snakes are generally quiet, almost lethargic, preferring to lie motionless or to make a slow retreat when encountered. When sufficiently agitated, however, they can strike vigorously and may vibrate their tails rapidly.
References
Further reading
*
Palisot de Beauvois, A.M.F.J. 1799. Memoir on Amphibia. Serpents. Trans. American Philos. Soc. 4 (42): 362-381.
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4692718
contortrix mokasen
Reptiles of the United States