Missouri Animals Cottonmouth/Water moccasin   (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma) Chordate: Vertebrate: Reptile: Serpentia: Crotalidae (VENOMOUS) Native North American snake Habitat: swamps, small creeks, rocky rivers.. Diet: fish, frogs, other snakes, lizards, rodents, small birds.. ID Features: dark body, heavily-keeled scales, line over jaw from tip of head to rear of head, short stout body. Natural History: The cottonmouth is a heavy-bodied, dark-colored, semi-aquatic snake that is nearly black. Its head is noticeabley wider than its neck and a black stripe may be present from the snout through its eye. It has keeled scales, a vertical slit pupil and a short stout body and it is venomous..

The graphics and text are from: The Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri by Tom R. Johnson, Missouri Department of Conservation, ©1992