It gets its name from its milky-white mouth which it displays as a fear or threat response. The northern cottonmouth, also commonly called the water moccasin, is a medium-sized, venomous pit viper. Average adult length: 3 – 4 ft (90 – 120 cm). ![]() ![]() Other names: Water moccasin, black moccasin, North American cottonmouth snake.Meaning of scientific name: ‘Hook-toothed fish eater’.Scientific name: Agkistrodon piscivorus.Geoff Gallice from Gainesville, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons What follows is a description of the semi-aquatic snakes found in North Carolina.ġ) Northern cottonmouth The northern cottonmouth shows its milky-white mouth when it feels threatened or scared. A snake’s preferred aquatic habitat and prey (or a lack of a preference) can generally tell you in which part of the state you’re likely to find it. North Carolina is generally divided geographically into three sections from east to west: the low-lying Coastal Plain, which abuts the Atlantic Ocean and is full of swamps and wetlands, the Piedmont (or foothills) in the center of the state, with low rolling hills, plenty of large, slow rivers but few wetlands, and the Appalachian Mountains in the far west, with smaller rivers and little slow-moving water. Many snake species, such as the copperhead, are generalists, and individuals or local populations can vary considerably in how much time is spent in water, depending on the temporal and spatial variation in food, competition, and climate. Several more species can be semi-aquatic at different times or places. Semi-aquatic snake species may spend time on land, but get the vast majority of their food from aquatic prey, often specializing in specific types (such as the aptly named crayfish snakes). Of the 38 species of snake in North Carolina, 11 are semi-aquatic, with one subspecies being found only in the state. ![]() Semi-aquatic snakes can be found all over the world, including North Carolina. Highsmith, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 1.11 11) Rainbow snake North Carolina has 3 distinct geographical sections, including the Appalachian Mountains (pictured).
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