Comments on: Cottonmouth Water Moccasin http://www.itsnature.org/ground/reptiles-land/cottonmouth-water-moccasin/ Its nature offers you interesting information and facts on the natural world Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:31:13 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: N/A http://www.itsnature.org/ground/reptiles-land/cottonmouth-water-moccasin/#comment-3349 N/A Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:01:05 +0000 http://wp.itsnature.org/ground/reptiles-land/cottonmouth-water-moccasin/#comment-3349 nice good info nice good info

]]> By: Charlotte http://www.itsnature.org/ground/reptiles-land/cottonmouth-water-moccasin/#comment-2361 Charlotte Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:00:06 +0000 http://wp.itsnature.org/ground/reptiles-land/cottonmouth-water-moccasin/#comment-2361 How long can a cottonmouth moccasin stay alive under the water or how often do they have to come up for air? Thanks! How long can a cottonmouth moccasin stay alive under the water or how often do they have to come up for air?

Thanks!

]]> By: James Bonavita http://www.itsnature.org/ground/reptiles-land/cottonmouth-water-moccasin/#comment-2259 James Bonavita Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:44:36 +0000 http://wp.itsnature.org/ground/reptiles-land/cottonmouth-water-moccasin/#comment-2259 I don't think I've seen so much misinformation or outright falsehoods on the Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) in one article! (1) "Cottonmouth Water Moccasin is a viper, and one of the most deadly that roam North America." WRONG! The Cottonmouth is a "Pit" Viper (New World), NOT a true (Old World) Viper, and... (2) It isn't generally considered "deadly" at all, much less "one of THE most deadly!" I've yet to confirm a death attributed to this snake and I've studied them for fifty years and taught snakebite treatment for 35. (3) "The adult water moccasin can be anywhere from 20 inches to as much as 7 feet long." WRONG AGAIN! Cottonmouths are about 5-6 inches at borth and adults average about 3-4 ft. (36"-48"). The largest of the thousands I've captured or seen in my life was only 5'4" (64 inches), although I believe the established record is about 74 inches (6'2"), not 7 ft. (4) "They also have the unique vertical pupils, while most common water snakes have round pupils." "Most?" ALL non-venomous water snake species have round pupils! (5) "Cotton mouth gives live birth, which isn’t to say they do not have eggs. The eggs are carried inside their bodies and then laid later on. From 6-12 eggs, leathery feeling will be laid." WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! Cottonmouths are "Viviporous," meaning they give LIVE BIRTH! They DO NOT "have eggs," and they DO NOT "carry the (eggs) inside their bodies and (lay) them later on!" They bear LIVE young like all other pit vipers! (6) "Usually only one of three survives to adulthood." Wrong. The fact is only approximately one out of one-hundred (1%) of all juvenile snakes reaches adulthood, NOT the stated "one of three" (33%). My God, if you're going to put information on the net, at least make sure it is correct! Someone needs to go back to biology class!!! JB I don’t think I’ve seen so much misinformation or outright falsehoods on the Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) in one article!
(1) “Cottonmouth Water Moccasin is a viper, and one of the most deadly that roam North America.” WRONG! The Cottonmouth is a “Pit” Viper (New World), NOT a true (Old World) Viper, and…
(2) It isn’t generally considered “deadly” at all, much less “one of THE most deadly!” I’ve yet to confirm a death attributed to this snake and I’ve studied them for fifty years and taught snakebite treatment for 35.
(3) “The adult water moccasin can be anywhere from 20 inches to as much as 7 feet long.” WRONG AGAIN! Cottonmouths are about 5-6 inches at borth and adults average about 3-4 ft. (36″-48″). The largest of the thousands I’ve captured or seen in my life was only 5′4″ (64 inches), although I believe the established record is about 74 inches (6′2″), not 7 ft.
(4) “They also have the unique vertical pupils, while most common water snakes have round pupils.” “Most?” ALL non-venomous water snake species have round pupils!
(5) “Cotton mouth gives live birth, which isn’t to say they do not have eggs. The eggs are carried inside their bodies and then laid later on. From 6-12 eggs, leathery feeling will be laid.” WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! Cottonmouths are “Viviporous,” meaning they give LIVE BIRTH! They DO NOT “have eggs,” and they DO NOT “carry the (eggs) inside their bodies and (lay) them later on!” They bear LIVE young like all other pit vipers!
(6) “Usually only one of three survives to adulthood.” Wrong. The fact is only approximately one out of one-hundred (1%) of all juvenile snakes reaches adulthood, NOT the stated “one of three” (33%).
My God, if you’re going to put information on the net, at least make sure it is correct! Someone needs to go back to biology class!!!
JB

]]> By: n/a http://www.itsnature.org/ground/reptiles-land/cottonmouth-water-moccasin/#comment-1575 n/a Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:19:18 +0000 http://wp.itsnature.org/ground/reptiles-land/cottonmouth-water-moccasin/#comment-1575 Can water moccasins live on land and water? I have heard that they only live in water, is that true? Can water moccasins live on land and water? I have heard that they only live in water, is that true?

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