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Western Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma |
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The Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma) occurs in the south-central U.S., westward into central Texas. In Florida and south Georgia the Eastern Cottonmouth occurs, which is quite similar to the western subspecies. This is a venomous snake and extreme care should be taken if you come across one. I do not kill snakes, since it is my belief they are a part of nature and should have the right to exist just like we do, but I am cautious when around them. The first image shows a large Western Cottonmouth at Port Bolivar, Galveston Co., Texas, in May, 1982. I do not recall the photo equipment used on this old image. The next two photos here, of a small Western Cottonmouth, were taken in May, 2001, along a sandy road in Jefferson Co., Texas, only a few miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The shots were taken a Canon EOS3 and an EF 70-200 F/2.8L lens on Fuji Velvia. The open mouth posture is a defensive or threat display from which the species gets its common name.
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| The Western Cottonmouth on the right was patrolling a section of the San Marcos River near Luling, Caldwell Co., Texas, in July, 2003. I was only able to get a few marginal shots with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 70-200 mm L IS lens and 2X extender as the snake went past me. This particular snake was about three feet long. |  |
| The Western Cottonmouth in the next four images was crossing a gravel road in Lewisville, Denton Co., Texas in August, 2007. This small snake, about 2 feet long, was quite feisty, and immediately assumed a defensive posture with its mouth held open. It maintained this posture the entire time we stood nearby. After a few shots with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender, we walked away and left the snake to go about its business. The fangs are folded up against the roof of the mouth, which is typical except when the snake actually bites at prey. |  |
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| Western Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma Pear Orchard Rd., Chambers Co., Texas 21 April 2016 Driving along Pear Orchard Rd., which is hard packed gravel, came across an AOR 3 ft. long W. Cottomouth in the middle of the road swallowing a frog. The snake started to regurgitate the frog as I stopped nearby, but then remained absolutely motionless when we got out of the vehicle. We took lots of shots of the snake with its half spit up frog, then we left it to its meal hoping someone else did not come along and turn it into a DOR Cottonmouth. This is Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus ssp. leucostoma) which is the only ssp which occurs in Texas. http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2999640 |
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| Western Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma Pear Orchard Rd., Chambers Co., Texas 21 April 2016 Driving along Pear Orchard Rd., which is hard packed gravel, came across an AOR 3 ft. long W. Cottomouth in the middle of the road swallowing a frog. The snake started to regurgitate the frog as I stopped nearby, but then remained absolutely motionless when we got out of the vehicle. We took lots of shots of the snake with its half spit up frog, then we left it to its meal hoping someone else did not come along and turn it into a DOR Cottonmouth. This is Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus ssp. leucostoma) which is the only ssp which occurs in Texas. http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2999640 |
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| Western Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma Pear Orchard Rd., Chambers Co., Texas 21 April 2016 Driving along Pear Orchard Rd., which is hard packed gravel, came across an AOR 3 ft. long W. Cottomouth in the middle of the road swallowing a frog. The snake started to regurgitate the frog as I stopped nearby, but then remained absolutely motionless when we got out of the vehicle. We took lots of shots of the snake with its half spit up frog, then we left it to its meal hoping someone else did not come along and turn it into a DOR Cottonmouth. This is Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus ssp. leucostoma) which is the only ssp which occurs in Texas. http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2999640 |
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| Western Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma Port Bolivar, Galveston Co., Texas 22 April 2016 |
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