 The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IUCN RED LIST STATUS | : | LEAST CONCERN
LEAST CONCERN | EXTINCT | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copperheads |
| Facts | Description SCIENTIFIC NAME : Agkistrodon contortrix WEIGHT : 100 - 340 grams LENGTH : 2 - 3 feet long POPULATION : Stable PLACES : North American,eastern and central United States. HABITATS : United States grassy areas. Copperheads get their name, unsurprisingly, from their bronze-hued heads.
| These large snakes, found through the southern and eastern United States, have bodies that range from tan to copper to gray, with characteristic hourglass-shaped stripes. The reptiles grow to lengths between two and three feet, although there are records of individuals longer than four feet. Their stout bodies abruptly taper toward their thin tails. The species (Agkistrodon contortrix) is responsible for more venomous snakebites than any other in the United States, in part because they are widespread and populous. They can also tolerate living in subdivisions and developed land, making interactions with humans more common.Luckily, their venom is not among the most potent, and bites are rarely deadly; children, the elderly, and immunocompromised people are most at risk. Copperhead venom is hemolytic, meaning it breaks down blood cells. The snakes typically feed on mice and other rodents, but will also go after small birds, lizards, and frogs. After biting their prey, the serpents often hold it in their mouth until the venom has done its job. |
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