This may be why the cottonmouth is believed to be a very aggressive snake by most people. Other common names given to the Agkistrodon piscivorus are Water Moccasin, Cottonmouth Moccasin, and Moccasin. The Cottonmouth resides mainly in the Southeastern United States. Habitat Cottonmouths are semi-aquatic and can be found in or near water and in fields. These snakes occasionally wander far from water and can be found in trees and bushes.
Cottonmouths usually inhabit murky waters such as swamps, streams, marshes, and drainage ditches.
The cottonmouths length may range from 30-42 inches, some have been found to range up to 74 inches. These snakes have a dark olive or black back with a lighter belly. Juveniles are marked by bands with darker boarders and paler centers. Their color darkens as they get older, thus the pattern is usually lost or hardly noticeable on adult Cottonmouths. They may also be a uniform black.