Young Water Moccasin

by Steve Creek on September 30, 2007 · 9 comments

Young Water Moccasin

Juvenile Water Moccasin

This is the world’s only semiaquatic viper, usually being found in or near water, particularly in slow-moving and shallow lakes and streams. Many of the common names refer to the fact that, when threatened, this species will often stand its ground and gape at an intruder, exposing the white lining of its mouth.

Juvenile and subadult specimens generally have a more contrasting color pattern, with dark crossbands on a lighter ground color. The ground color is then tan, brown or reddish brown. The tip of the tail is usually yellowish, becoming greenish yellow or greenish in subadults, and then black in adults. On some juveniles, the banding pattern can also be seen on the tail.

Another photo of a Water Moccasin I took: Water Moccasin Sneaking By

{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }

1 mitchell October 7, 2009

i am doing a reseasch paper and there could be a little more things that you could find that would make it useful

2 david July 16, 2010

were do water moccasin live if you live by a stream?????

3 Steve Creek July 16, 2010

David, A Water Moccasin is semi-aquatic, which means that most of their lives are spent near permanent water sources, and they swim a great deal of the time.

Most of the time I see them around muddy water.

4 Dawn Tiser September 4, 2010

Hi
I have these little guys coming up on my back porch. I have small children and I’m afraid of them getting bitten. How can I deter the snakes from coming up on my back porch?

Thanks
Dawn

5 Steve Creek September 4, 2010

Dawn, having water moccasins on your back porch is not good. Do you have animal control in your area? I would try to contact them to help you if not then contact your state Game and Fish and asked them if they could help.

Good luck!

6 margie kublick July 18, 2011

can a bite from them kill you or does it just make you really sick

7 Steve Creek July 20, 2011

Margie, Yes you can die from a water moccasin bite if not treated right away., but it is very very rare.

8 Thomas April 14, 2012

OMG! I was catching frogs in a ditch (a big one) when I thought I saw a snake (Later, from the spot a crayfish crawled out)And so my friend started hitting the water there with a metal pipe (LOL) I think we really Pssed it off…. But, there are alot of snake holes, we fill them in with a bag of cement or just dirt and clay or rocks….

What are the best ways to…. avoid getting bitten, killing one…. or whatever?

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