# Copperhead (*Agkistrodon contortrix*)

> The copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) is a common pit viper of eastern and central United States forests, marked with chestnut hourglass bands. Adults average about 0.75 m and eat rodents, frogs, and cicadas. Venom is rarely fatal to healthy adults; IUCN lists the species Least Concern.

- **Category:** Reptile
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Eastern and central United States from New England to Texas.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/copperhead/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Reptilia
- **Order:** Squamata
- **Family:** Viperidae
- **Genus:** Agkistrodon

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Agkistrodon contortrix |
| Diet | Carnivore (rodents and amphibians) |
| Habitat | Deciduous forest, rocky hillsides, and suburbs |
| Lifespan | Around 18 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity). |
| Weight | About 0.3 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary). |
| Top speed | Up to roughly 5 km/h when moving at speed. |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Hourglass bands and heat pits

Copperheads are heavy-bodied pit vipers with facial heat-sensing pits and elliptical pupils. Pattern blends with leaf litter — a classic ambush camouflage. Young have bright yellow tail tips used as caudal lures.

## Rodents, frogs, and cicadas

Diet shifts with age and season: juveniles take more amphibians and insects; adults favour mice and other small mammals. In parts of their range they gorge on periodical cicadas during emergence years.

## New England to Texas woodlands

Deciduous forest, rocky hillsides, and suburban edges from New England across the Midwest to Texas. They often shelter under logs, stone walls, and woodpiles near people.

## Bites common, deaths rare

Copperheads cause many US venomous snakebites because they live near suburbs, yet fatalities are uncommon with prompt medical care. Leaving them alone and keeping yards tidy of cover reduces encounters.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is a copperhead bite deadly?

Serious, but rarely fatal to healthy adults with hospital treatment. Seek medical care immediately; do not cut or suck the wound.

### How do you identify a copperhead?

Look for coppery head colour and dark chestnut bands that are narrow on the spine and wider on the sides (hourglass or "Hershey's Kiss" shapes on the back).

### Do baby copperheads have yellow tails?

Yes — the bright tip is waved as a lure to attract frogs and lizards — that is the usual English name for a young copperhead.

### Are copperheads protected?

They are Least Concern and generally not federally protected; some local rules discourage killing native snakes.

### Where do copperheads live?

Eastern and central United States from New England to Texas in forests, rocky slopes, and suburban edges.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/copperhead/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.