Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster

Taxobox
name = "Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster"

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regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Serpentes
familia = Viperidae
subfamilia = Crotalinae
genus = "Agkistrodon"
species = "A. contortrix"
subspecies = "A. c. pictigaster"
trinomial = "Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster"
trinomial_authority = Gloyd & Roger Conant, 1943
synonyms = * "Agkistrodon mokeson pictigaster" - Gloyd & Conant, 1943
* "Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster" - Klauber, 1948
* "Ancistrodon contortrix pictigaster" - Schmidt, 1953McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).]

:"Common names: Trans-Pecos copperhead.""Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster" is a venomous pitviper subspeciesITIS|ID=209500|taxon=Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster|year=2007|date=15 May] found in the Trans-Pecos region of the United States, in western Texas, and northeastern Mexico.

Description

This subspecies is typically a light tan in color, with darker brown, wide crossbands. Their actual color varies by locality, varying from a red-brown, to a gray-brown. The species can be difficult to distinguish from the Broad-banded Copperhead, "A. c. laticinctus". The only notable physical difference between the subspecies is that the Trans-Pecos Copperhead tends to have an elaboratedly patterned underside, often being an irregular, white and black pattern whereas the Broad-banded tends to be plain white, only have minimal patterning, or have elongated random blotching instead of a distinct pattern. The subspecies intergrade where their ranges overlap, further confusing identification. It is easily distinguished from other subspecies of copperhead, in that other species typically have banding that narrows at the spine, creating hourglass shapes, whereas "A. c. pictigaster" has bands that do not narrow at the spine. They grow to approximately 20-36 inches in length. As juveniles, all species of "Agkistrodon" have a bright green-yellow color to their tail tip believed to be used as a lure to attract prey items to approach within striking range. The color fades to a grey or brown at about a year of age.

Behavior

Like all "A. contortrix" subspecies, "A. c. pictigaster" is a nocturnal ambush predator. Their diet consists of primarily lizards, frogs, and rodents. Their choice of habitat is the driest among the copperhead subspecies, preferring rocky, lightly vegetated, canyon areas. They are ovoviviparous, giving birth to a litter of up to 8 young in the early fall.

Venom

Like most pit viper species, "A. contortrix" has a hemotoxic venom, which is delivered through hinged, hollow fangs set in the front of their jaw. The fangs work like hypodermic needles, injecting the venom in a single, quick striking motion. Copperhead venom is not considered to be life threatening to an otherwise healthy adult, but it can cause localized swelling, necrosis, and severe pain. Any bite from a venomous snake should be considered serious and medical treatment sought. There is no antivenin specifically manufactured for Copperheads, but CroFab, which makes use of the venom from the Cottonmouth ("Agkistrodon piscivorus"), and can be used in cases of a severe envenomation.

ee also

* List of crotaline species and subspecies
*
*
* Snakebite

References

External links

*
* [http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/snakes/agkistrodon.contortrix.html "Agkistrodon contortrix"] at [http://www.utexas.edu/ University of Texas] . Accessed 7 December 2007.
* [http://www.whozoo.org/Intro99/ehrich/bencopperhead.html Trans-Pecos Copperhead] at [http://www.whozoo.org/ WhoZoo] . Accessed 7 December 2007.