Facts about Water Moccasin
- 06
A water moccasin's distinctive white mouth lining, visible when the snake gapes defensively, serves as a warning signal to potential predators before striking.
- 05
Horizontal pupils in water moccasins allow them to see clearly both above and below the water surface simultaneously, an adaptation unique among North American venomous snakes.
- 04
Swimming water moccasins can bite underwater and hold their breath for up to one hour while submerged in freshwater habitats.
- 03
Viviparous water moccasins give birth to 1-15 live young per litter rather than laying eggs, with females typically reproducing every other year.
- 02
Cottonmouths occupy a geographic range extending from North Carolina to Texas, making them the only venomous snake species found throughout the southeastern United States.
- 01
The venom of water moccasins contains hemotoxins that destroy red blood cells and tissue, making bites from these snakes among the most medically serious in North America.