Broad-banded Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortix laticinctus
Description 5
This form is typically a light tan in color, with darker brown, wide crossbands - which gives it its common name. The actual color varies, by locality, from a red-brown, to a gray-brown. In the western reaches of its range, the species can be difficult to distinguish from the Trans-Pecos copperhead, A. c. pictigaster. The only notable physical difference between the subspecies is the A. c. pictigaster tends to have an elaborately patterned underside, often being an irregular, white and black pattern, whereas A. c. laticinctus tends to be plain white, only have minimal patterning, or have elongated random blotching instead of a distinct pattern. The subspecies intergrade where their ranges overlap, further confusing identification. It also overlaps with the southern copperhead, A. c. contortrix in the eastern reaches of its range, making specimens there difficult to distinguish, but generally A. c. contortrix has banding that narrows at the spine, creating hourglass shapes, whereas A. c. laticinctus has bands that do not narrow at the spine. They grow to approximately 20-36 inches (50–90 cm) in length. As juveniles, all species of Agkistrodon have a bright green-yellow color to their tail tips, believed to be used as a lure to attract prey items to approach within striking range. The color fades to a grey or brown at about a year of age.
Behavior 5
Secretive and nocturnal, it prefers lightly wooded habitats, typically with a good amount of ground debris for cover, not far from a permanent water source. It typically avoids regions with a significant population of humans. It is an ambush predator, eating rodents, birds, lizards, anurans, frogs, and certain insects, with juveniles in particular having a taste for various kinds of insects, such as cicadas. Wide foraging of caterpillars has also been documented in the field.[4] They are ovoviviparous, giving birth to a litter of up to eight young in the early fall.
Venom 5
Like most pit viper species, A. contortrix has a hemotoxic venom, which is delivered through hinged, hollow fangs set in the front of their jaws. The fangs work like hypodermic needles, injecting the venom in a single, quick striking motion. Copperhead venom is not considered to be life-threatening to an otherwise healthy adult, but it can cause localized swelling, necrosis, and severe pain. Any bite from a venomous snake should be considered serious and medical treatment sought. There is no antivenin specifically manufactured for copperheads. However, CroFab, which makes use of the venom from the cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus), can be used in cases of a severe envenomation.
Habitat 5
Agkistrodon contortix is often found in riparian or upland woods with sandy soil, near river bottoms and streambeds. In this area it will be found among dried leaves and pine needles. Other microhabitats include moist, rotten logs, piles of wood, rocky bluffs, ledges, accumulations of leaves and decaying plants (Kuntz 1986). The types of trees common to their habitat include live oak, post oak, cedar, and juniper. The snake is also most commonly found in the elevations between 100 and 1500 feet (Wright 1957). Due to the advancement of human population into the outskirts of cities, it is not uncommon to find the copperhead near homes. Bites to humans are very uncommon (Tennant 1998)
Geographic Range 5
Agkistrodon contortix laticinctus is known to populate the region between 97 degrees and 99 degrees west longitude, from Central Texas north to the southern border of Kansas and Oklahoma.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Matt Muir, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://picasaweb.google.com/116916927065934112165/6285242297823751393?locked=true#6285441152202375522
- (c) Chris Harrison, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Chris Harrison
- (c) Ronnie Richerson, all rights reserved, uploaded by Ronnie Richerson
- (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://eol.org/media/3499518
- (c) Ronnie Richerson, all rights reserved
