Animalia > Chordata > Reptilia > Squamata > Viperidae > Agkistrodon > Agkistrodon contortrix
 

Agkistrodon contortrix (Southern Copperhead)

Synonyms: Ancistrodon contortrix; Boa contortrix; Cenchris atrofuscus; Trigonocephalus contortrix

Wikipedia Abstract

For other snakes commonly called "copperheads," see Copperhead. colspan=2 style="text-align: center; background-color: transparent; text-align:center; border: 1px solid red;" | Title=Agkistrodon contortrix;ns=0/Main/;language:wiki=en,locale=en File:Copperhead05. jpg Conservation status File:Status iucn3.1 LC.
View Wikipedia Record: Agkistrodon contortrix

Infraspecies

Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix (Southern copperhead)
Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus (Broad-banded copperhead)
Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen (northern copperhead)
Agkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster (Osage copperhead)
Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster (Trans-pecos copperhead)

Attributes

Female Maturity [1]  2 years
Male Maturity [1]  2 years
Litter Size [1]  6
Maximum Longevity [1]  30 years
Venomous [2]  Yes

Ecoregions

Name Countries Ecozone Biome Species Report Map Climate Land
Use
Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests United States Nearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests United States Nearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Central forest-grasslands transition United States Nearctic Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands
Central U.S. hardwood forests United States Nearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Chihuahuan desert Mexico, United States Nearctic Deserts and Xeric Shrublands
East Central Texas forests United States Nearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Edwards Plateau savanna United States Nearctic Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands
Flint Hills tall grasslands United States Nearctic Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands
Middle Atlantic coastal forests United States Nearctic Temperate Coniferous Forests
Mississippi lowland forests United States Nearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Northeastern coastal forests United States Nearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Ozark Mountain forests United States Nearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Piney Woods forests United States Nearctic Temperate Coniferous Forests
Sierra Madre Oriental pine-oak forests Mexico, United States Nearctic Tropical and Subtropical Coniferous Forests
Southeastern conifer forests United States Nearctic Temperate Coniferous Forests
Southeastern mixed forests United States Nearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Texas blackland prairies United States Nearctic Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands
Western Gulf Coastal grasslands Mexico, United States Nearctic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands  

Protected Areas

Name IUCN Category Area acres Location Species Website Map Climate Land Use
Big Bend Biosphere Reserve National Park II 815561 Texas, United States
Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge IV 8964 South Carolina, United States
Carl Sandburg Home National Hist. Site National Historic Site III 271 North Carolina, United States
Carolinian-South Atlantic Biosphere Reserve 310228 North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, United States      
Central Gulf Coastal Plain Biosphere Reserve 40530 United States  
Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge VI 66133 Arkansas, United States
Fort Davis National Historic Site   Texas, United States
Fort Scott National Historic Site   Kansas, United States
Gauley River National Recreation Area V 10157 West Virginia, United States
Great Smoky Mountains National Park II 515454 North Carolina, Tennessee, United States
Horseshoe Bend National Military Park V 1926 Alabama, United States
Jean Lafitte National Hist. Park & Preserve National Historical Park II 17686 Louisiana, United States
Konza Prairie Biosphere Reserve 8617 Kansas, United States  
Land Between the Lakes Biosphere Reserve V 166264 Kentucky, Tennessee, United States
Little River National Wildlife Refuge   Oklahoma, United States
Mammoth Cave Area Biosphere Reserve (Natn'l Park) National Park II 51235 Kentucky, United States
Moores Creek National Battlefield III 100 North Carolina, United States
New Jersey Pinelands Biosphere Reserve   New Jersey, United States  
New River Gorge National River National River and Wild and Scenic Riverway V 55591 West Virginia, United States
Oak Ridge National Environmental Research Park 20001 Tennessee, United States
Ocmulgee National Monument V 693 Georgia, United States
Richmond National Battlefield Park III 1517 Virginia, United States
Roosevelt Vanderbilt National Historic Site   New York, United States        
Santee Coastal Reserve and Washo Reserve State Habitat Area IV 20850 South Carolina, United States  
Southern Appalachian Biosphere Reserve 37548505 North Carolina, Tennessee, United States  
Valley Forge National Historical Park VI 3509 Pennsylvania, United States
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge IV 26618 Alabama, United States

Ecosystems

Biodiversity Hotspots

Name Location Endemic Species Website Map
Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands Mexico, United States No

Prey / Diet

Agelaius phoeniceus (Red-winged Blackbird)[3]
Anaxyrus americanus americanus (Eastern American Toad)[3]
Automeris io (Io moth)[4]
Blarina brevicauda (Northern Short-tailed Shrew)[4]
Blarina carolinensis (Southern Short-tailed Shrew)[5]
Citheronia regalis (Regal moth/hickory horned devil)[4]
Colinus virginianus (Northern Bobwhite)[3]
Cryptotis parva (North American Least Shrew)[3]
Diadophis punctatus (arnyi)[6]
Gastrophryne olivacea (Great Plains Narrow-mouthed Toad)[6]
Gryllus pennsylvanicus (fall field cricket)[3]
Lithobates blairi (Plains Leopard Frog)[6]
Lithobates catesbeianus (American Bullfrog)[3]
Lithobates sylvaticus (Wood Frog)[3]
Malacosoma americana (Eastern tent caterpillar)[3]
Meleagris gallopavo (Wild Turkey)[3]
Microtus chrotorrhinus (rock vole)[7]
Microtus ochrogaster (prairie vole)[4]
Microtus pinetorum (woodland vole)[4]
Napaeozapus insignis (woodland jumping mouse)[8]
Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake)[3]
Ondatra zibethicus (muskrat)[3]
Plestiodon fasciatus (Five-lined Skink)[3]
Plethodon cinereus (Eastern Red-backed Salamander)[3]
Pseudacris crucifer (Spring Peeper)[3]
Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)[3]
Reithrodontomys megalotis (western harvest mouse)[6]
Sceloporus undulatus (Fence Lizard)[4]
Sciurus carolinensis (eastern gray squirrel)[3]
Sylvilagus floridanus (Eastern Cottontail)[3]
Tadarida brasiliensis (Brazilian free-tailed bat)[9]
Tibicen pruinosa[6]
Turdus migratorius (American Robin)[3]

Prey / Diet Overlap

Competing SpeciesCommon Prey Count
Accipiter cooperii (Cooper's Hawk)1
Accipiter striatus (Sharp-shinned Hawk)2
Aegolius acadicus (Northern Saw-whet Owl)2
Agelaius phoeniceus (Red-winged Blackbird)2
Agkistrodon piscivorus (conanti)1
Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard)4
Anaxyrus americanus americanus (Eastern American Toad)2
Ardea herodias (Great Blue Heron)3
Asio flammeus (Short-eared Owl)3
Asio otus (Long-eared Owl)5
Baeolophus bicolor (Tufted Titmouse)1
Bubo virginianus (Great Horned Owl)3
Buteo jamaicensis (Red-tailed Hawk)14
Buteo lineatus (Red-shouldered Hawk)1
Buteo platypterus (Broad-winged Hawk)1
Canis latrans (Coyote)1
Cardinalis cardinalis (Northern Cardinal)2
Carduelis tristis (American Goldfinch)1
Charadrius vociferus (Killdeer)1
Chelydra serpentina (Common Snapping Turtle)5
Circus cyaneus (Northern Harrier)1
Colinus virginianus (Northern Bobwhite)1
Coluber constrictor (Eastern Racer)1
Conepatus leuconotus leuconotus (American hog-nosed skunk)1
Corvus brachyrhynchos (American Crow)3
Crotalus horridus (Timber rattlesnake (atricaudatus))8
Cryptotis parva (North American Least Shrew)5
Cyanocitta cristata (Blue Jay)2
Didelphis marsupialis (Common Opossum)2
Didelphis virginiana (Virginia Opossum)4
Eptesicus fuscus (big brown bat)1
Falco sparverius (American Kestrel)1
Geococcyx californianus (Greater Roadrunner)1
Geothlypis trichas (Common Yellowthroat)1
Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald Eagle)1
Heterodon platirhinos (Eastern Hognose Snake)8
Ictalurus punctatus (Channel catfish)1
Ictinia mississippiensis (Mississippi Kite)1
Lampropeltis calligaster (Prairie Kingsnake)4
Lampropeltis triangulum (Scarlet kingsnake)3
Larus delawarensis (Ring-billed Gull)2
Leopardus pardalis (Ocelot)1
Lithobates catesbeianus (American Bullfrog)1
Lithobates sphenocephalus sphenocephalus (Florida Leopard Frog)1
Lynx rufus (Bobcat)2
Masticophis flagellum (Coachwhip)2
Megaceryle alcyon (Belted Kingfisher)3
Megascops asio (Eastern Screech-Owl)4
Meleagris gallopavo (Wild Turkey)2
Mephitis mephitis (Striped Skunk)6
Micropterus salmoides (Northern largemouth bass)2
Micrurus fulvius (Eastern Coral Snake, Harlequin Coralsnake)1
Mimus polyglottos (Northern Mockingbird)1
Molothrus ater (Brown-headed Cowbird)2
Mustela frenata (Long-tailed Weasel)1
Myiarchus crinitus (Great Crested Flycatcher)3
Neovison vison (American Mink)1
Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake)6
Notophthalmus viridescens (Eastern Newt)2
Ondatra zibethicus (muskrat)2
Phalacrocorax auritus (Double-crested Cormorant)1
Pituophis catenifer (Gopher Snake)2
Pituophis melanoleucus (Eastern Pine Snake)3
Plestiodon fasciatus (Five-lined Skink)2
Plethodon cinereus (Eastern Red-backed Salamander)1
Poecile carolinensis (Carolina Chickadee)1
Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Strawberry bass)1
Procyon lotor (Raccoon)5
Pseudacris crucifer (Spring Peeper)1
Puma concolor (Cougar)1
Quiscalus quiscula (Common Grackle)1
Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat)1
Scalopus aquaticus (Eastern Mole)1
Sciurus carolinensis (eastern gray squirrel)3
Sialia sialis (Eastern Bluebird)1
Sitta carolinensis (White-breasted Nuthatch)1
Spermophilus tridecemlineatus (thirteen-lined ground squirrel)1
Strix varia (Barred Owl)13
Sturnus vulgaris (European Starling)1
Terrapene carolina (Florida Box Turtle)2
Thamnophis sirtalis (Common Garter Snake)7
Thryothorus ludovicianus (Carolina Wren)2
Turdus migratorius (American Robin)2
Tyto alba (Barn Owl)4
Urocyon cinereoargenteus (Gray Fox)1
Vulpes vulpes (Red Fox)10
Zenaida macroura (Mourning Dove)1

Predators

Buteo jamaicensis (Red-tailed Hawk)[3]
Chelydra serpentina (Common Snapping Turtle)[3]
Didelphis virginiana (Virginia Opossum)[3]
Strix varia (Barred Owl)[3]
Vulpes vulpes (Red Fox)[3]

Providers

Shelter 
Lemna minor (common duckweed)[3]
Nuphar lutea (yellow cowlily)[3]
Osmunda cinnamomea (cinnamon fern)[3]
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (American ivy)[3]
Sambucus nigra (European black elderberry)[3]
Toxicodendron radicans (poison ivy)[3]
Typha latifolia (Reedmace)[3]

Institutions (Zoos, etc.)

    Maps
Institution Infraspecies / Breed 
Abilene Zoological Gardenslaticinctus
Birmingham Zoo
 contortrix
BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo
 contortrix
Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservat'n Societycontortrix
Budapest Zool.& Botanical Garden
Caldwell Zoocontortrix
 laticinctus
Cameron Park Zoo
 contortrix
 laticinctus
Cape May County Park Zoo
Central Florida Zoological Parkcontortrix
Chehaw Wild Animal Parkcontortrix
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardenmokason
Clyde Peeling's Reptilandmokason
Columbus Zoo and Aquariummokason
Dallas Zoo
Denver Zoological Gardens
Dickerson Park Zoo
 pictigaster
Ellen Trout Zoo
 contortrix
Fort Worth Zoological Parklaticinctus
Gladys Porter Zoopictigaster
Greenville Zoo
 mokason
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Houston Zoo, Inc.contortrix
Indian River Reptile Zoocontortrix
 laticinctus
 mokason
 pictigaster
Indianapolis Zoomokason
Jackson Zoological Park
 mokason
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardenscontortrix
Jesperhus Blomsterparkcontortrix
Kaliningrad Zoocontortrix
Knoxville Zoological Gardensmokason
Little Rock Zoological Gardenscontortrix
Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo
Louisville Zoological Gardenmokason
Maryland Zoo in Baltimorecontortrix
Memphis Zoological Garden & Aquariumcontortrix
Moscow Zoological Park
 contortrix
Musee d'Histoire Naturelle de Tournai
Nashville Zoo at Grassmeremokason
Natural Science Center of Greensboro
Newport Aquarium
North Carolina Zoological Park
NY State Zoo at Thompson Parkmokason
Oklahoma City Zoological Parkcontortrix
 laticinctus
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquariummokason
Potawatomi Zoolaticinctus
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
 contortrix
Rotterdam Zoo
Saint Louis Zoological Park
 phaeogaster
San Antonio Zoological Gardens & Aquarlaticinctus
San Diego Zoopictigaster
Sedgwick County Zoophaeogaster
Smithsonian National Zoological Parkmokason
Societa Zoologica Di Pistoia S.R.L
St. Augustine Alligator Farm
Staten Island Zoocontortrix
 pictigaster
Tampa's Lowry Park Zoocontortrix
Tennessee Aquariumcontortrix
 mokason
The Naples Zoocontortrix
 pictigaster
The Philadelphia Zoolaticinctus
 mokason
Toledo Zoological Gardens
Tulsa Zoo & Living Museum
 phaeogaster
Tygerberg Zoopark
Virginia Aquarium&Marine Science Ctrcontortrix
Virginia Living Museum
Virginia Zoological Park
 mokason
West Midland Safari & Leisure Park Ltd
Western North Carolina Nature Center
Woodland Park Zoological Gardens
Zoo Atlanta
 contortrix
Zoologischer Garten Leipzig

Range Map

Link to Map
USA (Texas, E/C Oklahoma, E Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, S Illinois, S Indiana, S Ohio, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jerse;

External References

Photos

Citations

Species recognized by Uetz P., , TIGR Reptile Database in Catalog of Life 2011
Attributes / relations provided by ♦ 1de Magalhaes, J. P., and Costa, J. (2009) A database of vertebrate longevity records and their relation to other life-history traits. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 22(8):1770-1774 ♦ 2Venomous snakes and antivenoms search interface, World Health Organization ♦ 3Study of Northern Virginia Ecology ♦ 4FOOD HABITS OF THE COPPERHEAD IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE, John S. Garton and Ralph W. Dimmick, Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science Volume 44, Number 4, October, 1969, pp. 113-117 ♦ 5Blarina carolinensis, Timothy S. McCay, MAMMALIAN SPECIES No. 673, pp. 1–7 (2001) ♦ 6Resources of a Snake Community in Prairie-Woodland Habitat of Northeastern Kansas, Henry S. Fitch, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Research Report 13: 83-98 (1982) ♦ 7Microtus chrotorrhinus, Gordon L. Kirkland, Jr. and Frederick J. Jannett, Jr., Mammalian Species No. 180, pp. 1-5 (1982) ♦ 8Napaeozapus insignis, John O. Whitaker, Jr., and Robert E. Wrigley, MAMMALIAN SPECIES No. 14, pp. 1-6 (1972) ♦ 9Tadarida brasiliensis, Kenneth T. Wilkins, MAMMALIAN SPECIES No. 331, pp. 1-10 (1989)
Ecoregions provided by World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF). WildFinder: Online database of species distributions, ver. 01.06 gis.wwfus.org/wildfinder
Protected Areas provided by Biological Inventories of the World's Protected Areas in cooperation between the Information Center for the Environment at the University of California, Davis and numerous collaborators.
Biodiversity Hotspots provided by Biodiversity Hotspots, Conservation International
Images provided by Google Image Search
Abstract provided by DBpedia licensed under a Creative Commons License
Range map provided by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), Conservation International & NatureServe.
Weather provided by NOAA METAR Data Access
Institution information provided by International Species Information System - May 2011