What is the biggest cottonmouth ever recorded?

74 inches
The longest cottonmouth on record was an eastern cottonmouth that measured 74 inches. The snake was reportedly caught in a swamp near the Virginia-North Carolina border. Given to the Philadelphia Zoo, it soon died from injuries. Average weight of these snakes is 3 to 4 pounds.

How large can a cottonmouth get?

They are large – typically 24 – 48 in (61 – 122 cm), occassionally larger, keeled-scaled, heavy-bodied snakes. Their coloration is highly variable: they can be beautifully marked with dark crossbands on a brown and yellow ground color or completely brown or black.

How do you tell if it’s a cottonmouth?

Head and Eyes A cottonmouth’s head is arrow-shaped, and nearly triangular when viewed from the top. However, as a means of appearing larger than they really are, some non-venomous snake species flatten their heads when danger approaches. As a result, head shape is a more difficult means of identifying cottonmouths.

How poisonous is the cottonmouth?

Venom / Bite The cottonmouth has a powerful cytotoxic venom that destroys tissue and is considered more toxic than that of the Copperhead. The bite symptoms commonly include severe pain, swelling, ecchymosis, and even though deaths are rare, the cottonmouth bite could leave scars and on occasion lead to amputation.

Will a cottonmouth bite you underwater?

Besides sea-snakes, there are two common snakes that can live in or near water – the cottonmouth (water moccasin) and the water snake. Not only can snakes bite underwater, but water moccasins join a list of more than 20 species of venomous snakes in the United States making them even more of a threat.

What does a cottonmouth bite feel like?

Symptoms of a cottonmouth bite usually appear from minutes to hours after a bite and can include: Severe, immediate pain with rapid swelling. Discoloration of the skin. Difficult or rapid breathing.

Will a cottonmouth chase you?

If you see a cottonmouth in the wild, be calm and realize that you are much larger than it, and it perceives you as a potential predator that has invaded its space. Cottonmouths are not out to get you, are not aggressive, will not chase you, and ultimately would like to be left alone.

Can a cottonmouth bite you underwater?

As its Latin name (Agkistrodon piscivourous) implies, cottonmouths eat fish, and they can bite underwater. The cottonmouth sets itself apart from other water snakes with a distinctive swimming style, its body riding high in the water with its head held up, like a proud pharaoh.

What happens if a cottonmouth bites you?

Humans bitten by pit vipers, such as cottonmouths, will almost always feel an immediate burning pain where they’ve been bitten, and these bite wounds usually begin to swell within five minutes, according to TPWD. Skin discoloration around the wound is also common.

What kind of snakes will chase you?

Some species of snakes will actively “chase” human beings, such as the Central American bushmaster (Lachesis muta muta). An enormous and lethally venomous serpent, the bushmaster is well-known for this behavior.

What does a dry bite from a snake look like?

If you suffer a dry snake bite, you’ll likely just have swelling and redness around the area of the bite. But if you’re bitten by a venomous snake, you’ll have more widespread symptoms, which commonly include: Bite marks on your skin. These can be puncture wounds or smaller, less recognizable marks.