Four kinds of copperheads are known in Texas. They are much smaller and more slender than the closely related cottonmouth and, because they have proportionately smaller fangs and less venom, are not very dangerous to man. The four copperheads resemble one another by having the same general pattern of chestnut or reddish-brown crossbands on a lighter body color. Differences are based mostly on the size and shape of crossbands and in the degree of marking present on the belly. Copperheads are most common in rocky areas of hilly or mountainous country, as well as in wooded bottomlands. They are rarely seen in dry, cactus country. Although spending most of their time on the ground, copperheads occasionally climb bushes and low trees in search of food. Along the Colorado River near Wharton, they were observed high in trees; some were 40 feet above the ground. The snakes reached these unusual heights by crawling along wild grape vines that clung to the tree trunks and draped over lower limbs. One snake hunter in the area collected nearly 100 copperheads by pulling them off the branches. Copperheads do most of their feeding at night. During the spring in some parts of the state, they are found in large numbers along streams and other moist areas, where they spend most of the day hidden beneath decaying logs and other debris which affords good cover. Copperheads also can be expected when air temperatures are high, and when the soil and vegetation are wet from recent rain. They often make their homes within the suburbs of large cities where, due to their nocturnal habits and protective coloration, they are apt to be overlooked. Not quick to seek cover when approached, copperheads prefer to lie perfectly still until an intruder has passed. Once molested, they frequently vibrate their tails and, if among dry leaves, produce a buzzing sound not unlike that made by a rattlesnake. Copperheads are quick to strike at any annoying object, and often bite several times in rapid succession. Copperheads seldom deliver a fatal bite because of their short fangs and small size. Their strike is often blocked by a mere trouser leg. Records of the Antivenin Institute of America show that during a 10-year period, not a single death resulted from 308 recorded copperhead bites regardless of the lack or kind of treatment given victims. In spite of these reassuring figures, it must be remembered that the copperhead is potentially a dangerous snake, especially when the bite involves a child. All bites from this species should receive the same urgent consideration given the bite of a diamondback rattlesnake. The four forms of copperheads occurring in Texas are the only kinds found in the United States. SOUTHERN COPPERHEAD
Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix SOUTHERN COPPERHEAD Description—Lighter in color than the other copperheads, this form has a body color of light brown or tan, often with a pinkish tinge. Hourglass-shaped crossbands of darker brown are very narrow along the middle of the back and are sometimes broken, forming two separate triangular markings, one on each side of the body. As on the northern copperhead, the bands are rounded at their bases. The belly is pale and indistinctly marked. Size—Adults average between 20 and 30 inches long, while some especially large examples reach a length of more than 40 inches. Young—The average number in a brood is five or six. As with all North American pit vipers, the young do not hatch from eggs but are born alive, enclosed in a thin membranous sack. They are paler than adults, with a more vivid pattern, and a bright sulphur yellow tail tip. Distribution in Texas—The southern copperhead is known in about the eastern third of the state, where it has been found in the following counties: Austin, Bastrop, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Colorado, Fort Bend, Gonzales, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Robertson, San Jacinto, Smith, Tarrant, Trinity, Victoria, and Walker. Distribution map NORTHERN COPPERHEAD
Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen NORTHERN COPPERHEAD Description—This darker form has a pattern of reddish-brown or chestnut colored crossbands, which become narrower near the middle of the back and rounded at the bases. The darker color of these “dumbbell” shaped bands contrasts with the hazel-brown body color. The underside of the snake is dark and indistinctly mottled with gray or black. Its head is usually of a lighter tint than the body. Size—Adults usually are about two and a half feet long but record size individuals of more than 40 inches have been caught. Young—Newborn northern copperheads, from three to 14 in a brood, may be from eight to 10 inches long. Distribution—Records of this snake are rather widely scattered over the northeastern part of the state. Specimens have been collected in the following counties: Bastrop, Bowie, Burleson, Cass, Collin, Colorado, Coryell, Dallas, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Guadalupe, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Lamar, Lee, McLennan, Milam, Morris, Robertson, Smith, Somervell, and Titus. Distribution map BROADBANDED COPPERHEAD
Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus BROADBANDED COPPERHEAD Description—The very broad, straight edged crossbands of this snake easily distinguish it from other copperheads. The similar Trans-Pecos copperhead differs by the presence of a light colored inverted U at the base of each crossband. The dark brown bands of this form are slightly narrower at the middle of the back than on the sides; their nearly straight edges gives the bands a squarish appearance. The dark crossbands contrast strongly with the lighter body color, while the belly is of almost the same shade as the bands. The tail is tipped with yellowish green, more pronounced in the young. Size—Snakes of this subspecies probably reach a length of three feet but most adults are about two feet long. Young—Litters probably average five or six but little else is known about the breeding habits of this form. Distribution—Widely scattered records include the following counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bastrop, Bexar, Bosque, Burnet, Callahan, Comal, Cooke, Crockett, Denton, Dimmit, Eastland, Fayette, Frio, Gillespie, Gonzales, Grayson, Guadalupe, Hamilton, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Mason, Medina, McLennan, Parker, Palo Pinto, Real, San Saba, Tarrant, Taylor, Throckmorton, Tom Green, Travis, Uvalde, Victoria, Wilson, Wise, and Young. Distribution map TRANS-PECOS COPPERHEAD
Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster TRANS-PECOS COPPERHEAD Description—This species resembles the broadbanded copperhead by its straight edged, squarish crossbands but differs from all other copperheads by having uniformly dark or strongly mottled belly. It also differs from the broadbanded form by the presence of a light colored inverted U at the base of each crossband. The pattern consists of about 13 chestnut-brown crossbands with narrow, dark borders. The color between the bands is light hazel brown, flecked with darker brown. Size—This is the smallest of the copperheads, probably not reaching a length of two and one-half feet. Young—Nothing is known of the breeding habits of this rare snake. Distribution—This form apparently is restricted to the mountains of West Texas, where it is known in Brewster, Jeff Davis, Presidio and Terrell Counties. Until 1949 it was found sparingly throughout its range and less than a dozen specimens had been found by experienced collectors. Recently, however, students from The University of Texas obtained about 100 of these snakes during a six weeks’ summer course in a small section of Terrell County. This indicates that the Trans-Pecos copperhead is common, but in restricted areas only. Such areas generally are in wooded canyons and live oak groves where there is some leaf litter. Distribution map
|
  |
