IDENTIFICATION
Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix is a somewhat stout-bodied moderate sized snake with a pale pinkish brown or tan ground color and hourglass shaped crossbands which are very narrow as they cross the snake's back. There are dark brown oval spots on the outer edges of the snake's belly that may sometimes extend up between the crossbands. The scales are weakly keeled and the anal plate is undivided. The mid-body scale count ranges from 23 to 25.
SIZE
Adults measure 24 to 36 inches. The record size for the Southern Copperhead is 52 inches.
RANGE
This species occurs throughout east Texas and eastward throughout much of the southern U.S. including southern Missouri, extreme eastern Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, the north central panhandle of Florida and the eastern part of South Carolina. At the extreme western edge of its range in Texas and Oklahoma, it intergrades with the Broad-Banded Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus). In extreme northeastern Oklahoma, northwestern Arkansas and southern Missouri it intergrades with the Osage Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster). Elsewhere across the northern portion of its range, it intergrades with the Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen).
DISTRIBUTION IN TEXAS
This species has been recorded from the following Texas counties: Anderson, Angelina, *Austin, Bastrop, Bowie, *Brazoria, *Brazos, *Burleson, Calhoun, Cass, Chambers, Cherokee, *Collin, Colorado, *Dallas, *Falls, Fort Bend, Gonzales, *Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Henderson, *Hopkins, Houston, Jefferson, *Kaufman, *Leon, Liberty, *McLennan, *Madison, *Matagorda, *Milam, Montgomery, *Morris, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, *Robertson, San Jacinto, *Smith, *Tarrant, *Titus, Trinity, Victoria, Walker, Washington, and Wharton.
(*) In these counties Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix intergrades with Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus.
Southern Copperhead intergrade (Juvenile) - Agkistrodon contortrix
contortrix x laticinctus from Collin Co., Texas Photo by John Ward
HABITAT
The Southern Copperhead generally inhabits partially wooded lowlands that are located not far from some source of water such as a creek, river or swamp area but they are also found in the hilly areas of northeast Texas. Look for them on the floor of the forest where they find shelter in decaying tree stumps, under rotting logs and boards, under the loose bark of fallen trees and beneath decaying leaves.
FOOD
This species feeds on small mammals such as mice, rats, shrews, voles, and even young rabbits. Small birds, lizards, other small snakes, amphibians and insects such as cicadas and caterpillars are also consumed as a regular part of their diet.
Southern Copperhead - Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix from Harris Co.,
Texas feeding on a young Mockingbird Photo by Janet Ellis
BEHAVIOR
In Texas, Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix is most active in the daylight hours during the spring and fall. During the hotter summer months they become mainly nocturnal. They frequently lie coiled and motionless, relying on their coloration and pattern to camouflage them, as they wait to ambush their next meal.
REPRODUCTION
Courtship and breeding generally occur during April and May. Southern Copperheads are live-bearers, giving birth to 5 to 6 young during August and September. The young measure from 8 to 10 inches at birth and resemble the adults except for having more vivid crossbands and the bright greenish or yellowish tip of the tail.
Southern Copperhead intergrade (Juvenile) - Agkistrodon contortrix
contortrix x laticinctus from Collin Co., Texas displaying the greenish
tail tip common in juvenile Copperheads. Photo by John Ward
REMARKS
The Southern Copperhead probably the most abundant vemomous snake throughout deep east Texas. There are often dense populations of these snakes in relatively small areas. The species accounts for the majority of venomous snake bites within its range. However, due to the low toxicity of its venom, modest venom yield and relativity short fangs there does not appear to be any documented cases of human fatalities from the bite of this species during recent years. Even so, being bitten by a Southern Copperhead is still a serious matter that should be treated as a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate medical attention.
LITERATURE CITED
Brown, Bryce C. 1950. An Annotated Check List of the Reptiles and Amphibians of Texas. Baylor University Press, Waco.
Conant, R. and J.T. Collins. 1991. Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern/Central North America, 3rd revised edition. Houghton Mifflin, Co., Boston.
Dixon, James R. 2000. Amphibians and Reptiles of Texas, 2nd edition. Texas A & M Press, College Station.
Gloyd, Howard K. and R. Conant. 1990. Snakes of the Agkistrodon Complex. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.
Werler, John E., and James R. Dixon. 2000. Texas Snakes, Identification, Distribution and Natural History. University of Texas Press, Austin.
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