ID#: 10847
Caption:
This photograph included the head and tail regions of a juvenile venomous southern copperhead snake, Agkistrodon contortrix, which was found coiled in a Decatur, Georgia basement.

This particular image offers an excellent view of the juvenile coloration of the distal tail tip, which is a bright yellow, disappearing when the snake reaches its adult status. The adult A. contortrix pit viper grows to a length 50cm to 95cm, and is pictured in PHIL 8130 and 10841. The name “pit viper” is derived from the fact that these snakes possess two heat-sensing organs situated inside a pit on either side of its head between each ipsilateral eye and nostril, both of which are visible from an anterolateral perspective in PHIL 10843, 10848, and 10849.

High Resolution: Click here for hi-resolution image (30.39 MB)
Content Provider(s): CDC/ James Gathany
Creation Date: 2008
Photo Credit: James Gathany
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Copyright Restrictions: None - This image is in the public domain and thus free of any copyright restrictions.