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Family:
pit vipers (the Crotalidae)
The
copperhead snake gets its name from the coppery color on its head.
It's body is quite pretty, decorated with hourglass patterns. Like
most snakes, the copperhead ranges in color, generally a coppery
color to a dark chestnut. On a warm fall day, on a walk
through the woods, one may step on a copperhead, as its color blends
in perfectly with the brown fallen leaves. And most bites
occur in this manner; accidently.
Copperheads
make their home in the warmer regions of the United States, seeking
out the moister regions, choosing cliffs, crevices, swamp borders
and abandoned wooden structures.
When threatened, it may move its tail back and forth like a rattlesnake,
though no noise is made because copperheads are not equipped with
rattles.
They
are, however, equipped with fangs that inflict a painful bite. The
good news is that the copperhead is a non-aggressive snake and will
only bite in self-defense or in defense of its offspring. Also,
although the bite is painful, it is rarely lethal.
The
copperhead is capable of swallowing an animal many times larger
than its mouth, and it has digestive juices that allow digestion
of bones and fur. Isn't that lovely?
The
average copperhead is about 2' to 3' long and may live up to 30
years - though almost all copperheads are lucky to see 8 years.
The
young is produced though egg-laying and hatch shortly after being
expelled from the mother. She will have 3-10 babies who generally
range in length from 8-10 inches. Though the babies do not
produce as much venom as the adult copperhead, it is just as lethal.
Copperheads
may den with rattlesnakes and rat snakes.
Reference:
over 50 years of personal experience in the Wilds of Texas
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