Florida Cottonmouth [Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti] Juvenile

Florida Cottonmouth [Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti] Juvenile

This colorful juvenile (about 12 inches in length) was discovered beneath vegetation in the roadside swale along County Road 13 near Bass Haven in far western St. Johns County, Florida during a terrestrial snail survey on 11/30/2010. Upon being disturbed by the photographer's rake during the survey, the little fellow immediately went into the "cottonmouth" display mode and maintained that posture until it was liberated into a nearby cypress swamp. At no time during the encounter did the serpent demonstrate any more aggressive behavior.