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What the sources say

CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Cottonmouth profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 55 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Agkistrodon piscivorus. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysA swamp pit viper that warns with a wide-open white mouth
The source saysopening their mouth wide to present their very white mouthsNote: tagline; 'swamp' from ADW wetlands/swamp habitat
The page saysWetlands
The source saysCottonmouths prefer wetlands but are also found on land in vegetation and under logs and branches.Note: stats.habitat
The page sayscreeks, lakes and ditches
The source saysCottonmouths can be found in bodies of water including bays, salt marshes, lakes, creeks, ditches, and even on river bottoms.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysa wide-open white mouth shown to predators
The source saysopening their mouth wide to present their very white mouthsNote: stats.superpower
The page sayslives in and around water
The source saysBecause cottonmouths are semiaquatic, they are most commonly found in moist habitats in close proximity to water.Note: body
The page saysIts name comes from the inside of its mouth, which is bright white.
The source saysThe mouth is bright white inside, which gives them their common name.Note: body
The page saysIt may also shake its tail in the plants to make a rattlesnake-like sound
The source sayscoiling and rapidly shaking their tail in vegetation to make a rattlesnake-like soundNote: body
The page saysit can spray a foul-smelling musk from a gland
The source saysCottonmouths also use a gland to spray a foul-smelling musk up to 1.5 m away to warn potential predators.Note: body
The page saysweigh 435 to 1,700 grams
The source saysRange mass 435 to 1700 gNote: body
The page saysMales are typically longer and heavier than females.
The source saysMales are typically longer, heavier, and have a greater number of subcaudal scalesNote: body
The page saysNot much is documented about how long wild ones live
The source saysLittle information has been documented on the lifespanNote: body
The page saysyoung cottonmouths suffer high predation.
The source saysCottonmouth young suffer high predation rates.Note: body
The page saysOn average, just 2 to 3 young per clutch make it to adulthood.
The source saysIn each clutch, on average, just 2 to 3 young make it to adulthood.Note: body
The page saysCottonmouths turn up in lakes, creeks and ditches, and even on river bottoms.
The source saysCottonmouths can be found in bodies of water including bays, salt marshes, lakes, creeks, ditches, and even on river bottoms.Note: body
The page saysA cottonmouth can bite, poison and potentially kill a human.
The source sayscottonmouths have the ability to bite, poison, and potentially kill humansNote: body
The page sayscottonmouths are generally secretive and not aggressive, so bites are rare.
The source sayscottonmouths are generally secretive and are not aggressive, so bites are rareNote: body; quote has 'and are' before 'not'
The page saysCottonmouths and other pit vipers that bite in defense typically inject less venom than they would to kill prey.
The source sayscottonmouths, and other pitvipers, that bite defensively, typically inject less venom than they would if they were trying to kill a prey itemNote: body
The page saysA cottonmouth may shake its tail in the plants to make a rattlesnake-like sound
The source sayscoiling and rapidly shaking their tail in vegetation to make a rattlesnake-like soundNote: vibe.reason
The page saysdangerLevel: Deadly
The source saysAs a venomous snake, cottonmouths have the ability to bite, poison, and potentially kill humans.Note: stats.dangerLevel; capability reading (#1273)

Source
02

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

AnAge entry for Agkistrodon piscivorus. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysThe oldest cottonmouth on record lived 24.5 years in captivity.
The source saysMaximum longevity 24.5 years (captivity)Note: body; AnAge Maximum longevity
The page saysAnAge lists a maximum longevity of 24.5 years, set in captivity.
The source saysMaximum longevity 24.5 years (captivity)Note: FAQ
The page saysrates the quality of that record as acceptable
The source saysSample size Medium Data quality AcceptableNote: FAQ
The page saysweightKg: 1.7
The source saysAdult weight 1,700 gNote: battleStats.weightKg; AnAge average; ADW range 435 to 1700 g is Light throughout

Source
03

USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

Agkistrodon piscivorus (Lacepede, 1789). USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database.

The page sayshunts on land and in water
The source saysThe foraging activity of Cottonmouths is both aquatic and terrestrialNote: tagline
The page saysfrom southeastern Virginia
The source saysthe Eastern Cottonmouth from southeastern VirginiaNote: stats.habitat range
The page saysto eastern Texas
The source saysthe Western Cottonmouth from eastern TexasNote: stats.habitat range
The page saysFish, amphibians, snakes, turtles, baby alligators, mammals and birds
The source saysfish, amphibians, snakes, turtles, baby alligators, mammals, and birdsNote: stats.diet
The page saysA heat-sensing pit on each side of the face
The source saysCottonmouths have a facial, heat-sensing pit between each nostril and eyeNote: stats.superpower
The page saysThe cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus, is a venomous pit viper
The source saysThese large, venomous pitvipers are semiaquatic snakesNote: body
The page saysWhen threatened, it may coil its body and open its mouth as though ready to bite
The source saysWhen threatened, the cottonmouth may respond by coiling its body and opening its mouth as though ready to bite.Note: body
The page saysflashing that white lining
The source saysThe exposed white interior of the mouth is what gave rise to the common nameNote: body
The page saysGiven the chance, though, it usually retreats.
The source saysGiven the chance, the cottonmouth usually will retreat.Note: body; USGS revised 2026-03-26
The page saysA mouth like a cotton ball
The source saysrevealing the pale or cottony-white interior in a threat displayNote: heading
The page saysOn its face, between each nostril and eye, sits a heat-sensing pit that is larger than the nostril.
The source saysCottonmouths have a facial, heat-sensing pit between each nostril and eye, which is larger than the nostril.Note: body
The page saysCottonmouths measure 76 to 189 centimeters in total length
The source saysSize: 760- 1892 mm total lengthNote: body; USGS (revised 2026) preferred over ADW's 66 to 188 cm
The page saysThe cottonmouth eats fish, amphibians, snakes, turtles, baby alligators, mammals and birds.
The source saysfish, amphibians, snakes, turtles, baby alligators, mammals, and birdsNote: body
The page saysIt often waits in ambush.
The source saysoften involves remaining in wait to ambush preyNote: body
The page saysYoung cottonmouths lure frogs within striking range by wiggling their yellow tails.
The source saysYoung lure frogs within striking range by wiggling their yellow tailsNote: body
The page saysThe Eastern cottonmouth lives from southeastern Virginia through the Carolinas and Georgia
The source saysthe Eastern Cottonmouth from southeastern Virginia, the Carolinas, and GeorgiaNote: body range
The page saysthe Western cottonmouth from eastern Texas and Louisiana north to extreme southern Illinois and Indiana
The source saysthe Western Cottonmouth from eastern Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas (eastern Cherokee County only), Louisiana, Arkansas, southern Missouri, western Tennessee, extreme southern Illinois and IndianaNote: body range
The page saysRecent genetic studies show that the Florida cottonmouth is a separate species.
The source saysthere are two species of Cottonmouth: A. conanti (Florida Cottonmouth)Note: body
The page saysThe US Geological Survey puts their total length at 760 to 1,892 millimeters.
The source saysSize: 760- 1892 mm total lengthNote: FAQ
The page saysThe head is thick and clearly broader than the neck.
The source saysThe head is thick and distinctly broader than the neckNote: FAQ
The page saysFemales give birth to 5 to 11 live young in late summer or early fall.
The source saysFemales give live birth to 5-11 young in late summer or early fallNote: FAQ; USGS (revised 2026) preferred over ADW's average of 5 to 9
The page saysSome females stay briefly with their young and give them some parental care.
The source sayssome females briefly remain with their young to provide some degree of parental careNote: FAQ
The page saysyoung ones lure frogs within striking range by wiggling their yellow tails
The source saysYoung lure frogs within striking range by wiggling their yellow tailsNote: vibe.reason

Source
04

Booth et al. 2012

Booth et al. (2012). Facultative parthenogenesis discovered in wild vertebrates. Biology Letters.

The page saysIn 2012, scientists reported the first cases of facultative parthenogenesis in wild-collected pregnant females
The source saysthe first cases of FP in wild-collected pregnant females and their offspring of two closely related species of North American pitviper snakes-the copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) and cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)Note: blockquote; year 2012 is the reference's publication year
The page saysFacultative parthenogenesis is asexual reproduction by a species that normally has two sexes.
The source saysFacultative parthenogenesis (FP)-asexual reproduction by bisexual speciesNote: blockquote
The page saysfrom two species: the copperhead and the cottonmouth
The source saystwo closely related species of North American pitviper snakes-the copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) and cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)Note: blockquote

Source
05

Vincent, Herrel & Irschick 2005

Vincent, Herrel & Irschick (2005). Comparisons of aquatic versus terrestrial predatory strikes in the pitviper,Agkistrodon piscivorus. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Comparative Experimental Biology.

The page saysIn a lab test with mice and fish, strikes on land were considerably more successful than strikes in water.
The source saysFinally, strike success differed significantly between strike types, with terrestrial strikes being considerably more successful than aquatic strikes.Note: body
The page saysThe researchers said the slower mouth closing underwater likely explained it.
The source saysStrike success likely differed due to the relatively slow mouth-closing velocity of aquatic strikes.Note: body
The page saysHunting in two worlds
The source sayswhen capturing both terrestrial (mice) and aquatic (fish) preyNote: heading: land and water prey

Source
06

Herr, Graham & Langkilde 2017

Herr, Graham & Langkilde (2017). Stressed snakes strike first: Hormone levels and defensive behavior in free ranging cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus). General and Comparative Endocrinology.

The page sayscottonmouths with higher baseline levels of a stress hormone were more likely to strike than to put on a threat display when approached
The source sayssnakes with elevated levels of baseline CORT at first encounter were more likely to strike than exhibit a threat display when approached in the fieldNote: body; CORT is a stress hormone per the abstract
The page saysa stress hormone
The source saysHere we explore the relationship between concentrations of a stress hormone and defensive behavior of a snake.Note: body; CORT is the hormone the abstract measures

Source
07

Hammerson 2007

Hammerson (2007). Agkistrodon piscivorus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2007: e.T64298A12756313.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: stats.conservationStatus; GBIF copy of the Red List, taxon 64298

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.