Classification Of Venomous Snakes

Classification of Venomous Snakes found in Arkansas

Venomous snakes are something that everyone needs to be aware of because they can be found everywhere, not just in the woods. Snakes have different preferences of habitats, but can sometimes be found in areas that wouldn’t be considered a natural habitat such as basements of homes and bathrooms. Most snakes that you see are not venomous. Venomous snakes are generally non-aggressive and bites are almost never fatal. Still, they are to be taken seriously. The following is a list of all of Arkansas’s venomous snakes.

Southern Copperhead

Adult Copperheads usually grow to a total length of 20–37 inches. Males are usually larger than their female counterpart. The largest Copperhead ever recorded was 53 inches in length. 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; they start out wider and become more narrow towards the base. They prefer rocky woodlands but can be found almost anywhere. The most common way a human is bit by a Copperhead is when they accidently step on one. Copperheads have the least lethal venom of all venomous snakes found in this southern state.

Western Cottonmouth
The Cottonmouth’s average size is about the same as the Copperhead’s. The cottonmouth is a dark, stout, thick-bodied snake. When the snake is threatened or frightened it will open its mouth wide. The skin inside its mouth is bright white-and the reason it is called a "cottonmouth." They are a solid color of a dark, grayish-brown. The older cottonmouths are usually darker than ones younger than them. The Cottonmouth’s eyes are the same elliptical as the Copperhead’s. A Cottonmouth’s venom is slightly more potent than the Copperhead’s. Cottonmouths