COPPERHEAD SNAKE

 
COPPERHEAD SNAKE
 



 
Copperhead Snake mainly found in North America from the United States south to northern Costa Rica.The species is also known by many other common names some of these are the chunk head, highland moccasin, water moccasin, swamp moccasin, black moccasin pilot snake, poplar leaf, red oak, red snake, white oak snake, cantil cobrizo in Spanish.
These are medium-sized snakes, an adult specimen of the several subspecies of copperhead snakes usually grow to a total length of 20 to 37 inches (50–95 cm).
The males are usually larger than females.They have a relatively stout and muscular body and the head is broad and distinct from the neck. 

Their color pattern consists of a pale tan to a pinkish tan ground color, overlaid with a series of 10 to 18 light tan to pinkish tan to pale brown crossbands. They have keeled (ridged) scales.
Just like all pit vipers, the copperhead is mostly an ambush predator, taking up a suitable position and waiting for their prey.
They are commonly active during the day during the spring and fall time. During the winter the copperhead hibernates in communal dens or limestone crevices
Copperheads are social snakes and can be found close to one another sunning, denning, courting and mating, eating or drinking sites. The species is thought to migrate in late spring to the summer feeding territories and return from this migration in early autumn.
Much like the majority of North American vipers, the copperhead prefers to avoid human contact, and if given the opportunity it will leave without biting.

But unlike other viperid species these snakes will often "freeze" instead of slithering away, and as a result, many bites occur from people unknowingly stepping on or near the snake.
The copperhead feeds mainly on mice and other small rodents, and play a major role in keeping the rodent population under control.
The species also enjoys eating birds, other small snakes, lizards, frogs, salamanders and large insects especially cicadas and large caterpillars.

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