Copperhead: Agkistrodon contortrix

 Sit and Wait Predator

The copperhead is also called the death adder, chunk head and dry-land moccasin.  Its scientific name is Agkistrodon contortrix. It is a pit viper and like all pit vipers, it is an ambush predator.  The copperhead will sit and wait in the dry leaf matter waiting for an animal to come into its path.

Behavior

Unlike many of hte viperids in North America, the copperhead will not flee the area if confronted by a human.  Instead it will coil up and freeze. The attached species photo was taken in a patch of dry leaves in North Texas.  We were able to get many photos of the copperhead because it did not slither away from the area.

What do Copperheads eat?

About 90 percent of the diet of a copper head consists of mice, voles and other small rodents.  They will also eat frogs and large insects (such as cicadas).