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Reptiles & Amphibians

Another snake ID?

15 years ago

Sadly, no picture...

I live in Southern Missouri, and think I saw my first Cottonmouth yesterday.

It was in a stretch of trail in front of my horse and me that was under water. It swam for about 20' through the channel in front of us, then came out on land and went down into the main stream below. I know that they are considered aggressive, but also have read studies where 50% will flee rather than attack, if given a clear option.

It swam with body partially above the surface, was a solid dark color, no pattern.

What I think may be a final diagnostic was the way it moved out of water. It moved on ground with a VERY definite sidewinder pattern, not the forward I see in snakes on ground around here. I've never seen a snake move like that on the ground here.

I can't find a THING about ground movement for either water snake we have here (the other being the Northern Water Snake, non-venomous), so I'm curious if anybody might have observed this movement pattern commonly in either species.

Thank you.

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Comments (4)

wayne_mo
15 years ago
Most of the cottonmouths I have seen on land move in a very straight line. When you say body partially above the surface do you mean that it looked like a snake on top of the water as though it were gliding across an ice rink or a snake partly submerged and partly above water with the head above water?

What county are you in, in Missouri? Plainbelly Water Snakes in Missouri and very large Northern Water Snakes (most smaller ones have a distinct pattern which you are probably familiar with) can also be solid colored. And terrestrial snakes will also swin some time.

Its a good description but from the description it is hard to say one way or the other.
frogpatch
15 years ago
The only thing I can add is that a cottonmouth has a large head width in comparison to its neck as do all pit vipers. Watersnakes have a more slender head shape.

Here is a link that might be useful: Love nature? Visit Frogpatch
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atrox
15 years ago
Wanted to add that Plainbelly Water Snakes have a patternless back whereas the cottonmouth will most often have a pattern.

Here is a link that might be useful: Watersnake link
winged_mammal
15 years ago
I will add that Cottonmouths will hold their ground sometimes which some people see as being "aggressive" since most snakes flee. However, in my observion and encounters I've never seen one attack or charge someone. I've never seen any snake do that.

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