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.