Copperhead Agkistrodon Contortrix Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Viperidae Genus: Agkistrodon Species: Contortrix

Description

Young copperheads are seven to ten inches long and grayer in color than adults. They have a yellow-tipped tail, but this color fades with age. They have an unmarked copper-colored head, and reddish-brown, coppery bodies with chestnut brown crossbands that constrict towards the midline. A pronounced stripe crosses over the eyes on the head of copperheads

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Average Statistics

Length	Average: 2.5 feet
Geographic Range	Eastern United States, from the Mississippi river east.

Diet

Adults eat mostly mice but also small birds, lizards, small snakes, amphibians, and insects--especially cicadas. Copperheads inject hemotoxic venom which destroys tissue.

Offspring

Copperheads have a gestation period of 3 to 9 months. They are a live-bearing snake, typically producing two to ten young; larger females produce larger broods. After birth, the female provides no direct care for the young.

Relationship with Humans

Copperheads are responsible for many snake bites in the United States although they are rarely fatal.

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