Sunday, May 11, 2008

American Copperhead


SCIENTIFIC NAME: Agkistrodon contortrix

DESCRIPTION: Chestnut color dominates overall, with darker crossbands of rich browns that become narrower on top and widen at the bottom. The top of the head is a coppery color.

CHARACTERISTICS: Very common over much of its range, with a natural camouflage ability to blend in the environment. Copperheads are rather quiet and inoffensive in disposition but will defend themselves vigorously. Bites occur when the snakes are stepped on or when a victim is lying next to one. A copperhead lying on a bed of dead leaves becomes invisible. Its venom is haemotoxic.

HABITAT: Found in wooded and rocky areas and mountainous regions.

LENGTH: Average 60 centimeters, maximum 120 centimeters.

DISTRIBUTION: Eastern Gulf States, Texas, Arkansas, Maryland, North Florida, Illinois, Oklahoma, Kansas, Ohio, New York, Alabama, Tennessee, and Massachusetts.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

hisssssssss!

Snakes. limbless, spiked-tongued, hissing, slithering creatures. they have always fascinated and also awed me. did you know that just a millilitre of a Fer-de-lance venom is sufficient to kill 60-100 human adults? amazing, huh? i shall try and keep posting the reports on various venomous snakes of the world as regularly as possible. :)