A pit viper of the eastern United States with copper-coloured hourglass bands, responsible for more snakebites in the U.S. than any other species.
Description
The copperhead is a stout snake with a distinctive coppery-orange head and a series of rich brown hourglass crossbands narrow at the spine and wide on the flanks. Juveniles have a bright yellow-green tail tip used to lure curious frogs and lizards within striking range.
Behavior
Copperheads are crepuscular ambush hunters that lie motionless in leaf litter, where their pattern provides near-perfect camouflage. Their bite is painful and medically important but rarely fatal — the species accounts for the most U.S. envenomations but the fewest deaths.
Range
Native to the eastern and central United States from Massachusetts west to Nebraska and south to the Florida panhandle and northern Mexico. Several subspecies vary in band pattern and ground colour across this range.
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Copperhead starts with C and ends with D. Browse other snakes along the same letter.
Snakes that contain a letter from "Copperhead":