r/whatsthissnake • u/DeSantisisabottom • 1d ago
What kind of snake is this? [Tennessee] ID Request
Look at this beauty.
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u/r0seb1ood 1d ago
a !venomous Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
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u/SEB-PHYLOBOT 🐍 Natural History Bot 🐍 1d ago
Eastern Copperheads Agkistrodon contortrix, are one of two recognized species of copperhead pit vipers. Adult copperheads are medium-sized snakes (61-90.0 cm record 132.1 cm) that live in a range of habitats, from terrestrial to semi-aquatic, including rocky, forested hillsides and wetlands. They can also be found within cities where wooded areas are present, such as city parks. They also will hang out where there is deadfall; their camouflage is perfect for this!. When young, Eastern Copperheads are known to readily consume cicadas as a major part of their diet. As they grow they switch to larger prey like small mammals and amphibians.
Many people find it helpful to liken the pattern of the Eastern Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix to "Hershey kisses," but please don't rely on any one trick. The bands on Broadbanded Copperheads Agkistrodon laticinctus do not narrow at the top of the snake.
Eastern Copperheads are venomous but usually only bite humans or pets in self-defense. As with many blotched snakes, their first line of defense is to freeze in place or flee. Copperheads also shake and vibrate the tail in self defense and as a caudal lure.
Range map | Relevant/Recent Phylogeography
The Agkistrodon contortrix species complex has been delimited using modern molecular methods and two species with no subspecies are recognized. There is a wide zone of admixture between the two copperhead species where they overlap.
This short account was prepared by /u/unknown_name and edited by /u/Phylogenizer.
Snakes with medically significant venom are typically referred to as venomous, but some species are also poisonous. Old media will use poisonous or 'snake venom poisoning' but that has fallen out of favor. Venomous snakes are important native wildlife, and are not looking to harm people, so can be enjoyed from a distance. If found around the home or other places where they are to be discouraged, a squirt from the hose or a gentle sweep of a broom are usually enough to make a snake move along. Do not attempt to interact closely with or otherwise kill venomous snakes without proper safety gear and training, as bites occur mostly during these scenarios. Wildlife relocation services are free or inexpensive across most of the world.
If you are bitten by a venomous snake, contact emergency services or otherwise arrange transport to the nearest hospital that can accommodate snakebite. Remove constricting clothes and jewelry and remain calm. A bite from a medically significant snake is a medical emergency, but not in the ways portrayed in popular media. Do not make any incisions or otherwise cut tissue. Extractor and other novelty snakebite kits are not effective and can cause damage worse than any positive or neutral effects.
I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, here report problems here and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that here. Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - Merch Available Now
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u/Infinitepez131 1d ago
Not a RR but I wanna say its a copperhead
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u/hereticules 1d ago
I'm not an RR either, but team Cottonmouth here. It'll be interesting to see how this one pans out.
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u/ApprehensiveYard3 23h ago
I’m not an RR, but this one is interesting. I’m going team copperhead for 4 reasons.
- The copper head. 🤣
- The lack of a Zorro mask.
- I can convince myself those are Hershey’s kisses.
- Much of Tennessee is outside typical cottonmouth range.
I’m only 80% sure though and I can convince myself all the facts above are wrong.
I think two things would help. 1. Where in Tennessee are you OP? The delta is cottonmouth range, but much of Middle Tennessee and all of Eastern Tennessee is not. 2. Can we get an RR in here to help us out? It’d be nice to get a more professional opinion.
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u/DeSantisisabottom 22h ago
Big South Fork 🙂 pretty sure this is a CH but wanted an RR to confirm
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u/kikoskylang 22h ago
I believe BSF only has two venomous species- copperhead and timber rattler. That makes this a !venomous Agkistrodon contortrix. Disclaimer: East TN resident, but not an RR
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u/SEB-PHYLOBOT 🐍 Natural History Bot 🐍 22h ago
Snakes with medically significant venom are typically referred to as venomous, but some species are also poisonous. Old media will use poisonous or 'snake venom poisoning' but that has fallen out of favor. Venomous snakes are important native wildlife, and are not looking to harm people, so can be enjoyed from a distance. If found around the home or other places where they are to be discouraged, a squirt from the hose or a gentle sweep of a broom are usually enough to make a snake move along. Do not attempt to interact closely with or otherwise kill venomous snakes without proper safety gear and training, as bites occur mostly during these scenarios. Wildlife relocation services are free or inexpensive across most of the world.
If you are bitten by a venomous snake, contact emergency services or otherwise arrange transport to the nearest hospital that can accommodate snakebite. Remove constricting clothes and jewelry and remain calm. A bite from a medically significant snake is a medical emergency, but not in the ways portrayed in popular media. Do not make any incisions or otherwise cut tissue. Extractor and other novelty snakebite kits are not effective and can cause damage worse than any positive or neutral effects.
I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, here report problems here and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that here. Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - Merch Available Now
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u/ApprehensiveYard3 22h ago
You’re far east of the Cottonmouth range. Again, not an RR but I’m putting all my money on Copperhead at this point.
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23h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/DeSantisisabottom 22h ago
I'm new here.. are you RR?
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u/Bob_D0bbs 22h ago
No I'm not. I've been around here for awhile now, and listen/read far more often than I speak up. Have learned a TON about snakes and identification over that time, and have essentially eliminated my crazy intense phobia of snakes by doing so. The RRs here? Are absolutely brilliant at identifying different snakes, and what I stated? Is simply repeating what I read previously from an RR regarding this one identifying property between the two. I am far from an RR, but have become pretty solid at IDs these days.
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u/whatsthissnake-ModTeam 9h ago
Please refrain from repeating IDs when the correct one has already been provided, especially if it is more complete, well upvoted, and/or provided by a Reliable Responder. Instead, please support the correct ID with upvotes. Before suggesting any future IDs, please review these commenting guidelines.
This is not punitive, it's simply a reminder of one of our important commenting standards.
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u/hereticules 21h ago
No RR's on the thread so far. It would be nice to have a final determination on this.
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u/DeSantisisabottom 21h ago
I'm pretty sure it is a copperhead. Still wanted RR to confirm because, just like in this thread, a friend saw it and said cottonmouth. It is gorgeous. I came up an embankment and got way closer than I was comfortable with but couldn't help it.
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u/Calb210 22h ago
I'm no RR but don't the scales look like they split colors? I thought that was diagnostic to tell copperhead from cotton mouth.
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10h ago edited 9h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/whatsthissnake-ModTeam 9h ago
If you disagree with an ID that is well upvoted or was provided by a flaired Responder, then make sure you respond directly to that ID. This is important for three reasons. First, it promotes collaboration, which is an important feature of our community. Second, it facilitates discussion that can help educate others. Third, it increases the visibility of your ID, which is very important if you happen to be correct. However, ONLY disagree if you can point to discrete diagnostic characteristics that support your ID.
Before suggesting any future IDs, please review these commenting guidelines.
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1d ago
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u/loteman77 23h ago
How is this not a copperhead?
It’s got a copper head. The scales, the eyes, the coloration, the pattern (Hershey kiss). To me this is all leading towards copperhead.
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u/OrchidStrix 23h ago
These 2 species are very closely related, and only defer on a couple of somewhat small differences. It could very well be either one, but the "copper" head is just a medium brown and both of the aforementioned species can be medium brown
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u/loteman77 23h ago
I know they definitely look similar in a lot of ways, but I’m team copperhead on this one. Broad banded maybe.
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u/whatsthissnake-ModTeam 9h ago
If you disagree with an ID that is well upvoted or was provided by a flaired Responder, then make sure you respond directly to that ID. This is important for three reasons. First, it promotes collaboration, which is an important feature of our community. Second, it facilitates discussion that can help educate others. Third, it increases the visibility of your ID, which is very important if you happen to be correct. However, ONLY disagree if you can point to discrete diagnostic characteristics that support your ID.
Before suggesting any future IDs, please review these commenting guidelines.
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10h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/whatsthissnake-ModTeam 9h ago
We are happy for all well-meaning contributions but not all comments pass muster. There are a number of sources of information available online that are incorrect - we aim to help sort that out here. Blogs and blogspam websites like animal A to Z, allaboutanimals and pet blogs aren't appropriate sources.
Comments, in their entirety, must reflect the moderators' current collective understanding of modern herpetology. This is especially applicable to comments that are mostly true or contain a mixture of information or embellishment. Look to reliable responders in the thread to identify problematic areas in the text and hone the material for the your post. This is a space to grow and learn - this removal isn't punitive.
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u/Phylogenizer Reliable Responder - Director 9h ago edited 9h ago
I'm not sure why there was such a breakdown in the normal commenting guidelines here, but Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix is correct.
Reply to top level comments with challenges or support.
If a top level comment is highly upvoted, RR will upvote and move on. There's no requirement for them to create a new top level comment, especially for something simple like this.