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Reptilia    Squamata (part)    Crotalidae  

Northern Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus (Lacépède, 1789)

SSAR 9th Edition Comments:
Strickland et al. (2014, Copeia 2014: 639-649), using AFLP and mtDNA data, confirmed two lineages of ‘Cottonmouths’ (A. piscivorus and A. conanti), but with significant secondary introgression among northern Florida populations.

Range maps are based on curated specimens and provided gratis by CNAH.
(Created by Travis W. Taggart; Version: 2023.07.17.16.18.36)
Download GeoJSON polygon range file: - 1.02 MB

First instance(s) of published English names:
Brown Viper (Viper fusca: Catesby, Mark and Cromwell Mortimer. 1753. IX. A Continuation of an Account of an Essay Towards a Natural History of Carolina and the Bahama Islands. By Mark Catesby, F. R. S. with Some Extracts out of the Eighth Set. By Dr. Mortimer, Secr. R. S. Philosophical Transactions 39():251-258); Water Rattle-snake (Vipera aquatica: Catesby, Mark and Cromwell Mortimer. 1753. IX. A Continuation of an Account of an Essay Towards a Natural History of Carolina and the Bahama Islands. By Mark Catesby, F. R. S. with Some Extracts out of the Eighth Set. By Dr. Mortimer, Secr. R. S. Philosophical Transactions 39():251-258); Water-viper (Vipera aquatica: Catesby, Mark and Cromwell Mortimer. 1753. IX. A Continuation of an Account of an Essay Towards a Natural History of Carolina and the Bahama Islands. By Mark Catesby, F. R. S. with Some Extracts out of the Eighth Set. By Dr. Mortimer, Secr. R. S. Philosophical Transactions 39():251-258); Truncheon-snake (Vipera fusca: Catesby, Mark and Cromwell Mortimer. 1753. IX. A Continuation of an Account of an Essay Towards a Natural History of Carolina and the Bahama Islands. By Mark Catesby, F. R. S. with Some Extracts out of the Eighth Set. By Dr. Mortimer, Secr. R. S. Philosophical Transactions 39():251-258); Water Viper (Vipera aquatica: Catesby, Mark. 1754. The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands: Containing the Figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects, and Plants: Particularly the Forest-trees, Shrubs, and other Plants, not Hitherto Described, or Very Incorrectly Figured by Authors. Together with Their Descriptions in English and French. To which, are Added Observations on the Air, Soil, and Waters: with Remarks upon Agriculture, Grain, Pulse, Roots, &c. To the Whole, is Prefixed a New and Correct Map of the Countries Treated of. , London. pp.); Water Rattle-snake (Vipera aquatica: Catesby, Mark. 1754. The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands: Containing the Figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects, and Plants: Particularly the Forest-trees, Shrubs, and other Plants, not Hitherto Described, or Very Incorrectly Figured by Authors. Together with Their Descriptions in English and French. To which, are Added Observations on the Air, Soil, and Waters: with Remarks upon Agriculture, Grain, Pulse, Roots, &c. To the Whole, is Prefixed a New and Correct Map of the Countries Treated of. , London. pp.); Brown Viper (Vipera fusca: Catesby, Mark. 1754. The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands: Containing the Figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects, and Plants: Particularly the Forest-trees, Shrubs, and other Plants, not Hitherto Described, or Very Incorrectly Figured by Authors. Together with Their Descriptions in English and French. To which, are Added Observations on the Air, Soil, and Waters: with Remarks upon Agriculture, Grain, Pulse, Roots, &c. To the Whole, is Prefixed a New and Correct Map of the Countries Treated of. , London. pp.); Trunchion Snake (Vipera fusca: Catesby, Mark. 1754. The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands: Containing the Figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects, and Plants: Particularly the Forest-trees, Shrubs, and other Plants, not Hitherto Described, or Very Incorrectly Figured by Authors. Together with Their Descriptions in English and French. To which, are Added Observations on the Air, Soil, and Waters: with Remarks upon Agriculture, Grain, Pulse, Roots, &c. To the Whole, is Prefixed a New and Correct Map of the Countries Treated of. , London. pp.); Copper-head (Acontias atro-fuscus: Troost, Gerard. 1836. On a new genus of serpents, and two new species of the genus Heterodon, inhabiting Tennessee. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 3():174-190); Blackish Brown Acontias (Acontias atro-fuscus: Troost, Gerard. 1836. On a new genus of serpents, and two new species of the genus Heterodon, inhabiting Tennessee. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 3():174-190); Highland Moccason (Acontias atro-fuscus: Troost, Gerard. 1836. On a new genus of serpents, and two new species of the genus Heterodon, inhabiting Tennessee. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 3():174-190); Pilot (Acontias atro-fuscus: Troost, Gerard. 1836. On a new genus of serpents, and two new species of the genus Heterodon, inhabiting Tennessee. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 3():174-190); Cotton-mouthed Snake (Acontias leucostoma: Troost, Gerard. 1836. On a new genus of serpents, and two new species of the genus Heterodon, inhabiting Tennessee. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 3():174-190); Cotton-mouth Snake (Acontias leucostoma: Troost, Gerard. 1836. On a new genus of serpents, and two new species of the genus Heterodon, inhabiting Tennessee. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 3():174-190); White-mouthed Acontias (Acontias leucostoma: Troost, Gerard. 1836. On a new genus of serpents, and two new species of the genus Heterodon, inhabiting Tennessee. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 3():174-190); Highland Moccason (Toxicophis atro-fuscus: Troost, Gerard. 1836. On a new genus of serpents, and two new species of the genus Heterodon, inhabiting Tennessee. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 3():174-190); Blackish Brown Toxicophis (Toxicophis atro-fuscus: Troost, Gerard. 1836. On a new genus of serpents, and two new species of the genus Heterodon, inhabiting Tennessee. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 3():174-190); Copper-head (Toxicophis atro-fuscus: Troost, Gerard. 1836. On a new genus of serpents, and two new species of the genus Heterodon, inhabiting Tennessee. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 3():174-190); Pilot (Toxicophis atro-fuscus: Troost, Gerard. 1836. On a new genus of serpents, and two new species of the genus Heterodon, inhabiting Tennessee. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 3():174-190); White-mouthed Toxicophis (Toxicophis leucostoma: Troost, Gerard. 1836. On a new genus of serpents, and two new species of the genus Heterodon, inhabiting Tennessee. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 3():174-190); Cotton-mouthed Snake (Toxicophis leucostoma: Troost, Gerard. 1836. On a new genus of serpents, and two new species of the genus Heterodon, inhabiting Tennessee. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 3():174-190); Cotton-mouth Snake (Toxicophis leucostoma: Troost, Gerard. 1836. On a new genus of serpents, and two new species of the genus Heterodon, inhabiting Tennessee. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 3():174-190); Water Moccasin (Ancistrodon piscivorus: Jordan, David Starr. 1876. Manual of the Vertebrates of the Northern United States: Including the District East of the Mississippi River, and North of North Carolina and Tennessee, Exclusive of Marine Species. Jansen, McClurg, and Company, Chicago, Illinois.. 342pp.); Water Moccasin (Ancistroden piscivorus: Coues, Elliott and Henry C. Yarrow. 1878. Notes on the natural history of Fort Macon, N. C. and Vicinity (No. 4). Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 30():21-28); Water Moccasin (Ancistrodon piscivorus: Jordan, David S. 1878. Manual of the Vertebrates of the Northern United States: Including the District East of the Mississippi River, and North of North Carolina and Tennessee, Exclusive of Marine Species. Second Edition, Revised, and Enlarged. Jansen, McClurg & Company, Chicago. pp.); Water Moccasin (Ancistrodon piscivorus piscivorus: Yarrow, Henry C. 1882. Check list of North American Reptilia and Batrachia with catalogue of specimens in U. S. National Museum. Bulletin of the United States National Museum (24):1-249); Texas Moccasin (Ancistrodon piscivorus pugnax: Yarrow, Henry C. 1882. Check list of North American Reptilia and Batrachia with catalogue of specimens in U. S. National Museum. Bulletin of the United States National Museum (24):1-249); Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Hay, Oliver P. 1892. Batrachians and Reptiles of the State of Indiana. Pages 409-624 in 17th Annual Report of the Indiana Department of Geology and Natural Resources, William B. Burford, Printer and Binder, Indianapolis, Indiana. pp.); Mokason (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Hay, Oliver P. 1892. Batrachians and Reptiles of the State of Indiana. Pages 409-624 in 17th Annual Report of the Indiana Department of Geology and Natural Resources, William B. Burford, Printer and Binder, Indianapolis, Indiana. pp.); Water Moccasin (Ancistrodon piscivorus: Garman, H. 1892. A synopsis of the reptiles and amphibians of Illinois. Illinois Laboratory of Natural History Bulletin 3():215-403); Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Rhoads, Samuel N. 1895. Contributions to the zoology of Tennessee. No. 1, Reptiles and amphibians. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 47():376-407); Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Stejneger, Leonhard H. 1895. The poisonous snakes of North America. Annual Report of the United States National Museum 1893(2):337-487); Cotton Mouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Hurter, Julius. 1911. Herpetology of Missouri. Transactions of the Academy of Science St. Louis 20(5):59-274); Cottonmouth (Ancistrodon piscivorus: Brimley, Clement S. 1915. List of reptiles and amphibians of North Carolina. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 30(4):195-206); Cotton-mouth Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Stejneger, Leonhard H. and Thomas Barbour. 1917. A Checklist of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. pp.); Cotton-mouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Strecker, John K., Jr. 1922. An annotated catalogue of the amphibians and reptiles of Bexar County, Texas. Bulletin Scientific Society of San Antonio (4):1-31); Stump-tail Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Strecker, John K., Jr. 1922. An annotated catalogue of the amphibians and reptiles of Bexar County, Texas. Bulletin Scientific Society of San Antonio (4):1-31); Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Schmidt, Karl Peterson and D. D. Davis. 1941. Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. C.P. Putnam and Sons, New York. 365pp.); Blunt-tailed Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); Cottonmouth Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); Water Viper (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); Black Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); Rusty Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); Stump Tail Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); North American Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); Cotton-mouthed Snake (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); North American Water Viper (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); Blunt Tail Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); Lowland Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); Pilot (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); Cottonmouth Snake (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); Cottonmouth Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); True Horn Snake (Agkistrodon piscivorus: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); Texas Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus pugnax: Wright, Albert Hazen. 1950. Common names of the snakes of the United States. Herpetologica 6(6):141-186); Water Moccasin (Ancistrodon piscivorus: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.); Cottonmouth (Ancistrodon piscivorus: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.); Western Cottonmouth (Ancistrodon piscivorus leucostoma: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.); Western Water Moccasin (Ancistrodon piscivorus leucostoma: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.);

Taxon Links:

  
Catalog of American Amphibians and Reptiles
  
The Reptile Database
  
NatureServe
  
iNaturalist
  
GenBank
  
USGS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database

Selected References:
1789 Lacepede, Bernard G. de. Histoire naturelle des quadrupèdes ovipares et des serpens. Tome Second. [Natural history of oviparous quadrupeds and serpents. Second volume.] Hotel de Thou, Rue des Poitevins, Paris, France. 671pp.
1943 Gloyd, Howard K. and Roger Conant. A synopsis of the American forms of Agkistrodon (copperheads and moccasins). Bulletin of the Chicago Academy of Sciences 7(2):147-170
1969 Gloyd, Howard K. Two additional subspecies of North American crotalid snakes, genus Agkistrodon. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 82:219-232
1972 Baker, Robert J., George A. Mengden, and James J. Bull. Karyotypic studies of thirty-eight species of North American snakes . Copeia 1972(2):257-265
1983 Baker, Randy E. The Western Cottonmouth in Osage County, Oklahoma. Bulletin of the Oklahoma Herpetological Society 8(2):56-57
1989 Campbell, Jonathan A. and D. H. Whitmore, Jr. A comparison of the skin keratin biochemistry in vipers with comments on its systematic value. Herpetologica 45:242-249
1989 Chiasson, R. B., D. L. Bentley, and C. H. Lowe. Scale morphology in Agkistrodon, and closely related crotaline genera. Herpetologica 45:430-438
1990 Gloyd, Howard K. and Roger Conant. Snakes of the Agkistrodon complex: A monographic review. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Contributions to Herpetology Number 6, . pp.
1992 Knight, A., L. D. Densmore III, and E. D. Rael. Molecular systematics of the Agkistrodon complex. Pages 49-69 in Biology of the Pitvipers Selva, Tyler, Texas. pp.
1993 Rundquist, Eric M. and James Triplett. Additional specimens of the Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma, Reptilia: Squamata) from Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 96(1/2):148-151
2008 Guiher, T. J. and Frank T. Burbrink. Demographic and phylogeographic histories of two venomous North American snakes of the genus Agkistrodon. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48:543-553
2014 Burbrink, Frank T. and Timothy J. Guiher. Considering gene flow when using coalescent methods to delimit lineages of North American pitvipers of the genus Agkistrodon. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 2014:1-22
2014 Strickland, Jason L., Christopher L. Parkinson, J. Kelly McCoy,and Loren K. Ammerman. Phylogeography of Agkistrodon piscivorus with emphasis on the western limit of its range. Copeia 2014(4):639-649
2015 Burbrink, Frank T. and Timothy J. Guiher. Considering gene flow when using coalescent methods to delimit lineages of North American pitvipers of the genus Agkistrodon. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 173:505–526
2020 Hillis, David M. The detection and naming of geographic variation within species. Herpetological Review 51(1):52-56

THE CENTER FOR NORTH AMERICAN HERPETOLOGY — Accessed: Saturday 26 April 2025 23:42 CT