| Range: |
Eastern United States, from Missouri south to Texas |
| Habitat: |
Streams, creeks, swamps, shores of ponds and lakes |
| Conservation Status: |
Not listed by IUCN |
| Scientific Name: |
Agkistrodron piscivorus leucostoma |
This pitviper's name refers to the white lining of its mouth, which it gapes at attackers when it feels threatened. Missouri is the northwestern limit of the range for this heavy-bodied snake. Cottonmouths live in two distinct habitats. The more common is the cypress swamps, sloughs and oxbow lakes in southeastern Missouri. The other is the cool, spring-fed rocky creeks and rivers of the Ozarks, where a few scattered populations live.
Did You Know?
This snake is venomous.
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