|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
Background Snakes belong to the class Reptilia and the suborder Serpentes and are believed to have been in existence since the late Cretaceous period, about 80 million years ago. They most likely evolved from lizards, and some species retain evidence of a pelvic girdle or even legs. All snakes have extremely long vertebral columns, which in some species can contain more than 400 vertebrae. They lack movable eyelids and have no middle ear or bones in the skin. Although all snakes are carnivores, relatively few are venomous. Many swallow their prey live, after wrapping their bodies tightly around their prey to suffocate it. Some snakes (including copperheads) inject poisons produced in their salivary glands through tubular teeth, called fangs, into their prey to immobilize it, and then swallow it whole. In Maryland, the northern copperhead and the timber rattlesnake are the only two venomous snake species, and to this list Pennsylvania adds the eastern massasauga rattlesnake. The southern copperhead, frequently confused with the benign hognose snake, can be found in abundance in other areas of the watershed, including Virginia. Like most snakes, copperheads are reclusive and favor sheltered habitats.
They usually bite only if stepped on or provoked. The copperhead's bite
is painful and poisonous and should receive prompt medical attention,
but is rarely fatal to humans. Identifying Marks: The copperhead has a broad, sharply triangular head, usually rust or copper-colored, with characteristic heat-sensitive pits; vertically elliptical pupils that appear almost round in dim light; and rust or chestnut-colored dorsal markings, narrow on the back and broader on the sides. Its belly is usually pinkish-tan. Adults can reach 53 inches in length, but rarely exceed three feet. Habitat and Life Cycle: Copperheads can be found from the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay to the Blue Ridge Mountains. They inhabit a variety of habitats in the watershed, including coastal areas, marshes, forests, fields, and wooded slopes and ravines. They particularly favor hiding places in abandoned rural structures, sawdust piles, or under boards. When disturbed, they tend to lie still or move away slowly, but occasionally will vibrate their tails. The copperhead's diet ranges from insects to small mammals. The snake also consumes birds, amphibians and other reptiles. Copperheads mate in spring and sometimes autumn. Females are ovoviparous–the fertilized eggs remain in her body and are nourished by the yolk–and give birth to between 3 and 14 fully-formed live young, which she does not care for, feed or protect. Newborn snakes are between 8 and 10 inches in length and have bright yellow-tipped tails. Young snakes grow rapidly and shed their skin as they grow, often four or more times a year, before they are three years old. Adults shed once or twice a year. In preparation for shedding, the snake's eyes secrete lymphatic fluid, which gives them a murky blue appearance.
To bookmark this page, please use this URL: http://www.chesapeakebay.net/copperhead.htm For more information, contact the Chesapeake
Bay Program Office: Terms
of Use | Privacy Policy
| Contact Us |
||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||
The
shy, venomous copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) belongs to
the pit viper family and can be found in rural areas, 
Copperheads
and non-venomous snakes can be told apart by identifying certain obvious
features. Venomous snakes have heads that appear to be much wider than
their necks; a single line of scales under their tails and single anal
plate. All venomous snakes have bilateral heat-sensitive pits between
each eye and nostril, and elliptical pupils. Non-venomous snakes have
round pupils, no sensing pits, a divided anal plate and two rows of
scales under their tails.
