| PET CLASSIFIED'S |
| VENOMOUS SNAKES |
FROM THEIR ENEMIES. COPPERHEADS FEED ON MICE, SMALL BIRDS, LIZARDS, SNAKES, AMPHIBIANS, AND INSECTS, ESPECIALLY CICADAS. LIKE YOUNG COTTONMOUTHS. BABY COPPERHEADS HAVE A BRIGHT YELLOW TAIL THAT IS USED TO LURE SMALL PREY ANIMALS. ENCOUNTERED , THE SAFEST REACTION IS TO BACK AWAY -- IT WILL NOT TRY TO ATTACK. IS SO SMALL AND WILL CAMOUFLAGED THAT PEOPLE SELDOM SEE PYGMY RATTLERS THAT ARE COLED ATOP PINE STRAW OR DEAD LEAVES. THIS SNAKE FEEDS ON MICE, LIZARDS, SNAKES AND FROGS. BROWN AND THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TAIL USUALLY IS BLACK. THIS SPECIES IS UNQUESTIONABLY THE MOST COMMON VENOMOUS SNAKE FOUND IN WET-LAND HABITAT TYPES. HOWEVER, THE HARMLESS BROWN WATER SNAKE, WHICH IS VERY COMMON IN AQUATIC AREAS FREQUENTED BY HUMANS, OFTEN IS MISTAKEN FOR VENOMOUS COTTONMOUTH. IF DISTURBED, THE COTTONMOUTH WILL OFTEN STAND ITS GROUND AND GIVE AN OPEN- MOUTHED THREAT DISPLAY. BROWN WATER SNAKES, WHEN DISTURBED, WILL DROP FROM OVERHANGING TREE LIMBS AND FLEE. FAMILY ELAPIDAE FIXED-FANG SNAKES SUCH AS COBRAS, KRAITS AND CORAL SNAKES. ONLY ONE SPECIES OF ELAPID OCCURS IN GEORGIA ND SOUTH CAROLINA-- THE EASTERN CORAL SNAKE. |
FAMILY : VIPERIDAE
VENOMOUS SNAKES OF THE FAMILY VIPERIDAE ARE
KNOWN AS HEAT SENSING. THE " PIT VIPERS"
BECAUSE THEY HAVE A HEAT-SENSING "PIT"
BETWEEN THEIR EYE AND NOSTRIL. THE FANGS OF
THESE SPECIES FOLD UP AGAINST THE ROOF OF
THEIR MOUTH.
VENOMOUS SNAKES OF THE FAMILY VIPERIDAE ARE
KNOWN AS HEAT SENSING. THE " PIT VIPERS"
BECAUSE THEY HAVE A HEAT-SENSING "PIT"
BETWEEN THEIR EYE AND NOSTRIL. THE FANGS OF
THESE SPECIES FOLD UP AGAINST THE ROOF OF
THEIR MOUTH.
INFORMATION ON THE SPECIES OF VIPERIDS COMMON TO
GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA IS PRESENTED BELOW
GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA IS PRESENTED BELOW
UNCOMMON TO COMMON. COPPERHEADS ARE FOUND
IN WET WOODED AREAS. HIGH AREAS IN SWAMPS,
AND MOUNTAINOUS HABITATS. ADULTS USUALLY AR
2-3 FT. LONG. THEIR GENERAL APPEARANCE IS LIGHT
BROWNER PINKISH WITH DARKER, SADDLE-SHAPED
CROSSBANDS. THE DEAD IS SOLID BROWN. THEIR
LEAF-PATTERN CAMOUFLAGE PERMITS
COPPERHEADS TO BE SIT-AND WAIT PREDATORS,
CONCEALED NOT ONLY FROM THEIR PREY BUT ALSO
IN WET WOODED AREAS. HIGH AREAS IN SWAMPS,
AND MOUNTAINOUS HABITATS. ADULTS USUALLY AR
2-3 FT. LONG. THEIR GENERAL APPEARANCE IS LIGHT
BROWNER PINKISH WITH DARKER, SADDLE-SHAPED
CROSSBANDS. THE DEAD IS SOLID BROWN. THEIR
LEAF-PATTERN CAMOUFLAGE PERMITS
COPPERHEADS TO BE SIT-AND WAIT PREDATORS,
CONCEALED NOT ONLY FROM THEIR PREY BUT ALSO
| COPPERHEAD AGKISTRODON CONTORTRIX |
| CANEBRAKE OR TIMBER RATTLESNAKE CROTALUS HORRIDUS |
COMMON. THIS SPECIES OCCUPIES A WIDE DIVERSITY
OF TERRESTRIAL HABITATS, BUT IS FOUND MOST
FREQUENTLY IN DECIDUOUS FOREST AND HIGH
GROUND IN SWAMPS. HEAVY-BODIED ADULTS ARE
USUALLY 3-4 FT. AND OCCASIONALLY 5 FT LONG THEIR
BASIC COLOR IS GRAY WITH BLACK CROSSBANDS
THAT USUALLY ARE CHEVRON- SHAPED. TIMBER
RATTLESNAKES FEED ON VARIOUS RODENTS, RABBITS,
AND OCCASIONALLY BIRDS. THESE RATTLESNAKES
ARE GENERALLY PASSIVE IF NOT DISTURBED OR
PESTERED IN SOME WAY. WHEN A RATTLESNAKE IS
OF TERRESTRIAL HABITATS, BUT IS FOUND MOST
FREQUENTLY IN DECIDUOUS FOREST AND HIGH
GROUND IN SWAMPS. HEAVY-BODIED ADULTS ARE
USUALLY 3-4 FT. AND OCCASIONALLY 5 FT LONG THEIR
BASIC COLOR IS GRAY WITH BLACK CROSSBANDS
THAT USUALLY ARE CHEVRON- SHAPED. TIMBER
RATTLESNAKES FEED ON VARIOUS RODENTS, RABBITS,
AND OCCASIONALLY BIRDS. THESE RATTLESNAKES
ARE GENERALLY PASSIVE IF NOT DISTURBED OR
PESTERED IN SOME WAY. WHEN A RATTLESNAKE IS
| EASTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE CROTALUS ADAMANTEUS |
RARE. THIS RATTLESNAKE IS FOUND IN BOTH WET AND
DRY TERRESTRIAL HABITATS INCLUDING PALMETTO
STANDS. PINE WOODS, AND SWAMP MARGINS. ADULTS
ARE FREQUENTLY 3-5 FT LONG AND OCCASIONALLY
ARE MORE THAN 6 FT . THEIR BASIC COLOR IS LIGHT
TO DARK BROWN WITH DISTINCT DIAMONDS OF A
COMBINATION OF BROWN AND YELLOW; THE TIP OF
THE TAIL IS SOLID BLACK WITH RATTLES. EASTERN
DIAMONDBACKS FEED ON RABBITS, RATS, AND
SQUIRRELS. THIS SNAKE BECAUSE OF ITS HUGS SIZE
AND POTENT VENOM, IT IS CONSIDERED BY SOME TO
BE THE MOST DANGEROUS SNAKE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
DRY TERRESTRIAL HABITATS INCLUDING PALMETTO
STANDS. PINE WOODS, AND SWAMP MARGINS. ADULTS
ARE FREQUENTLY 3-5 FT LONG AND OCCASIONALLY
ARE MORE THAN 6 FT . THEIR BASIC COLOR IS LIGHT
TO DARK BROWN WITH DISTINCT DIAMONDS OF A
COMBINATION OF BROWN AND YELLOW; THE TIP OF
THE TAIL IS SOLID BLACK WITH RATTLES. EASTERN
DIAMONDBACKS FEED ON RABBITS, RATS, AND
SQUIRRELS. THIS SNAKE BECAUSE OF ITS HUGS SIZE
AND POTENT VENOM, IT IS CONSIDERED BY SOME TO
BE THE MOST DANGEROUS SNAKE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
| PYGMY RATTLESNAKE SISTRURUS MILIARIUS |
UNCOMMON. PYGMY RATTLESNAKES MAY OCCUR IN
ASSOCIATIONS WITH WET AREAS IN WOODED
HABITATS OR SWAMPS, SCRUB OAK- LONG LEAF PINE
FOREST HABITATS, OR OTHER WOODED SITES.
INDIVIDUALS ARE HEAVY- BODIED, BUT USUALLY ARE
ONLY SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 1-FT. LONG. THE
GENERAL COLOR OF THIS SNAKE IS DULL GRAY WITH
DARK GRAY OR BROWN BLOTCHES ON THE BACK AND
SIDES. THE SMALL SIZE OF THE PYGMY'S RATTLES
MAKE THE " BUZZ" DIFFICULT TO HEAR. THIS SPECIES
ASSOCIATIONS WITH WET AREAS IN WOODED
HABITATS OR SWAMPS, SCRUB OAK- LONG LEAF PINE
FOREST HABITATS, OR OTHER WOODED SITES.
INDIVIDUALS ARE HEAVY- BODIED, BUT USUALLY ARE
ONLY SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 1-FT. LONG. THE
GENERAL COLOR OF THIS SNAKE IS DULL GRAY WITH
DARK GRAY OR BROWN BLOTCHES ON THE BACK AND
SIDES. THE SMALL SIZE OF THE PYGMY'S RATTLES
MAKE THE " BUZZ" DIFFICULT TO HEAR. THIS SPECIES
| COTTONMOUTH (WATER MOCCASIN) AGKISTRODON PISCIVORUS |
ABUNDANT. COTTONMOUTHS ARE FOUND IN
ASSOCIATION WITH EVERY TYPE OF WETLAND HABITAT
INCLUDING ESTUARIES, TIDAL CREEKS, AND SALT
MARSHES; THIS SPECIES OFTEN WANDERS OVERLAND IN
SEARCH OF FOOD. ADULTS REACH LENGTHS OF 3-4 FT.
AND OFTEN HEAVY-BODIED. THE COLOR PATTERN IS
VARIABLE, BUT THE BACKS OF ADULTS ARE USUALLY
DRAB BROWN OR OLIVE WITH DARKER CROSSBANDS.
THE BELLY IS A COMBINATION OF DULL YELLOW AND
ASSOCIATION WITH EVERY TYPE OF WETLAND HABITAT
INCLUDING ESTUARIES, TIDAL CREEKS, AND SALT
MARSHES; THIS SPECIES OFTEN WANDERS OVERLAND IN
SEARCH OF FOOD. ADULTS REACH LENGTHS OF 3-4 FT.
AND OFTEN HEAVY-BODIED. THE COLOR PATTERN IS
VARIABLE, BUT THE BACKS OF ADULTS ARE USUALLY
DRAB BROWN OR OLIVE WITH DARKER CROSSBANDS.
THE BELLY IS A COMBINATION OF DULL YELLOW AND
| EASTERN CORAL SNAKE MICRURUS FULVIUS |
RARE. EASTERN CORAL SNAKE ARE FOUND IN
ASSOCIATION WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF TERRESTRIAL
HABITATS INCLUDING WOODED AREAS, FIELDS, AND
MARGINS OF AQUATIC AREAS. ADULTS REACH ABOUT 2
FT. IN LENGTH RED, YELLOW AND BLACK RINGS
ENCIRCLE THE BODY. THE NARROW YELLOW RINGS
TOUCH THE RED RINGS, A PATTERN DISTINGUISHING
THIS SPECIES FROM THE SCARLET KINGSNAKE AND
SCARLET SNAKE. THE NOSE IS ALWAYS BLACK,
FOLLOWED BY A WIDE YELLOW BAND. THIS SNAKE
FEEDS OFF SMALL SNAKES AND LIZARDS. CORAL
SNAKES., WHICH BELONG TO THE SAME FAMILY AS OLD
WORLD COBRAS AND KRAITS, HAVE SHORT, FIXED
FANGS IN THE FRONT OF THE MOUTH. THE POTENTIAL
SERIOUSNESS OF A BITE FROM THIS SPECIES
WARRANTS A U UNIVERSAL WARNING NOT TO PICK UP A
SNAKE IN THIS REGION OF THE COUNTRY--- NO MATTER
HOW PRETTY-- WITHOUT BEING CERTAIN OF ITS
IDENTITY.
ASSOCIATION WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF TERRESTRIAL
HABITATS INCLUDING WOODED AREAS, FIELDS, AND
MARGINS OF AQUATIC AREAS. ADULTS REACH ABOUT 2
FT. IN LENGTH RED, YELLOW AND BLACK RINGS
ENCIRCLE THE BODY. THE NARROW YELLOW RINGS
TOUCH THE RED RINGS, A PATTERN DISTINGUISHING
THIS SPECIES FROM THE SCARLET KINGSNAKE AND
SCARLET SNAKE. THE NOSE IS ALWAYS BLACK,
FOLLOWED BY A WIDE YELLOW BAND. THIS SNAKE
FEEDS OFF SMALL SNAKES AND LIZARDS. CORAL
SNAKES., WHICH BELONG TO THE SAME FAMILY AS OLD
WORLD COBRAS AND KRAITS, HAVE SHORT, FIXED
FANGS IN THE FRONT OF THE MOUTH. THE POTENTIAL
SERIOUSNESS OF A BITE FROM THIS SPECIES
WARRANTS A U UNIVERSAL WARNING NOT TO PICK UP A
SNAKE IN THIS REGION OF THE COUNTRY--- NO MATTER
HOW PRETTY-- WITHOUT BEING CERTAIN OF ITS
IDENTITY.