Water Moccasin Vs Water Snake Florida

Water moccasins and cottonmouths share one common thing.

Water moccasin vs water snake florida. Their are numerous different types of water snakes spread all through the united states. They are known for their thick bodies and shorter tails compared to the slender water snake. The cottonmouth or water moccasin is a dark colored heavy bodied snake that can grow to an average of 2 4 feet in length. The water moccasin has a brownish color but this will also go darker as they age more.

One of the snakes which is easy to confuse with a water moccasin agkistrodon piscivorus is the water snake g enus nerodia. Juvenile cottonmouths are a brown or tan color with darker reddish brown crossbands containing many speckles down the back. The best way to tell these two snake species apart is by observing their heads and looking for the water moccasin s distinct dark band. Although water moccasins are the same however there are more than one type.

Venomous snakebites are rare and can usually be avoided. In the swamps of southern texas conservationist coyote peterson captured a venomous water moccasin and a non venomous banded water snake comparing them side by side to show how to distinguish one from the other the snakes can appear very similar but the differences between them could potentially be deadly. They re the same snake. However knowing how to respond correctly to venomous snakebites is also important.

Another way to distinguish the two snakes is by their bodies. There are many harmless watersnakes genus nerodia that are frequently confused with venomous water moccasins a k a. Harmless watersnake or venomous water moccasin. Some are easy to tell from a water moccasin others almost look identical.

There is also the western cottonmouth which is found in the states surrounding and. The water moccasin or cottonmouth is a venomous pit viper snake species found in southeastern parts of the united states. Water moccasins have very thick bodies while southern water snakes have more slender bodies. Florida s snakes cottonmouth or water moccasin agkistrodon piscivorus venomous.

There are three subspecies within this species. Their heads are also much larger than the normal water snake and they have a diamond like shape that almost seems like a large block. Cottonmouths agkistrodon piscivorus sadly harmless snakes are often killed out of fear for the safety of family and pets. In this article we ll take a look at water moccasins vs cottonmouths and discern the difference if any.