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Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix - Southern Copperhead
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Description
Southern copperheads reach an adult length of 24 to 26 inches (60 to 66 cm). They have a pale brown to light tan body, often with a pinkish tint. Their yellow eyes have elliptical or cat-like pupils. Its body, covered with rough scales, is patterned with dark, hour glass-shaped cross bands, wider at their base and narrow across the back. Copperheads have heat-sensing "pits" located between the eyes and nostrils, hence the name "pit viper".
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Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus - Broad-banded Copperhead
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Description
The Broad-banded Copperhead is light tan with broad reddish-brown or copper bands with a very thin white border. The number of bands varies from 10 to 17. It has a large head and hinged fangs that spring out when striking at prey or in defence. Young are usually much lighter in color with greenish yellow tips to their tails.
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Agkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster - Osage Copperhead
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Description
The Osage Copperhead has dark chestnut cross bands that are narrower in the center and wider on the sides, giving the bands an hourglass shape. There are also dark rounded spots at the sides of the belly. The head is a copper-red color.
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Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti - Florida Cottonmouth
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Description
The Florida Cottonmouth is similar in pattern to A. p. piscivorus but has dark brown cheek stripe bordered above and below by narrow light lines. It has two dark stripes at the front of the lower jaw, and two dark vertical stripes at the tip of the snout. Mature specimens often lack any pattern on the back.
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Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma - Western Cottonmouth
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Description
The cottonmouth is a dark, stout, thick-bodied venomous snake. When frightened, the cottonmouth will pop its mouth open. The skin inside its mouth is bright white-and the reason it is called "cottonmouth." Most adults average 30-42 inches (76-106.7 cm) long. They are dark, grayish-brown with little or no markings. Very old cottonmouths may be entirely black. Its broad, flat head distinctly wider than its neck, and it has an elliptical (cat-like) pupil. By day the pupil appears as a narrow slit; at night the pupil is wide and may even look round.
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Arizona elegans elegans - Kansas Glossy Snake
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Description
The glossy snake and its many subspecies are all similar in appearance to gopher snakes. However, they are smaller than gopher snakes, with narrow, pointed heads, and a variety of skin patterns and colors.
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Arizona elegans philipi - Painted Desert Glossy Snake
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Description
The Painted Desert glossy snake is typically a light tan brown in color, with darker brown blotches down the length of the back. This subspecies usually has around 60 blotches, more than other subspecies. Each blotch is usually edged with black. Their underside is usually solid cream or white in color. Their coloration can vary, lighter or darker, depending on the soil and elevation of their localized habitat, with specimens from higher elevations often being darker in color. They can grow from 20 to 35 inches in length (50 to 90 cm). They have a thin body, smooth scales, and eyes with round pupils.
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