Speaking of Snakes...

[jacksbuddy]

water moccasin or cottonmouth, highly venomous snake.... It is aggressive in the wild state but may become quite tame in captivity. It is classified

I hate to hijack the thread, but...How do they know this? I mean, really! What kind of person sees such a mean, dangerous, and deadly serpent like a cottonmouth, and decide that they want to take it home as a pet?

[bigwater]

check out the show fatal attractions.. i think its on the animal planet channel... people have all kinda wild animals for pets.. everything from highly venmous snakes to big cats to chimps.. etc etc...

i was watching this show the other night and there was this guy that had somekinda big booty lizards living in his one bedroom apt, mind you not in cages just freely roaming around.... he was the loner type guy.. as you know the mouth of one of those lizards is full of deadly kinds of bacteria... apperently this ol boy had been bitten before.. but his immune system had been able to fight it off... well not this time.. i think he got bit on like a thu. night.. he showed the nasty bite to a co-worker on fri... weekend end came and went and monday mornin this ol boy didn't show back up for work.. finally on fri of that week the police went to this dudes apt.. from what i gahtered the bacterial infection had weakend this ol boy to the point that he couldn't get off the floor.. then his lizards pretty much ate most of his body...

as wolf ruffin said.. its some crazy mf'ers.. its some crazy mf'ers out there...

oh and one more. they showed a clip of an ol gal walkin a black jaguar around her neigherbhood on a dog leash... think about that a jaguar on a leash..

so for the hi jackn.. but it really is some crazy mf'ers out there...

[Seymore]

I thought the same thing about the tame cottonmouth comment. What idiot keeps a cottonmouth?

Those lizards you are talking about use their bite to help digest their prey before they eat them. I saw on TV a show about these lizards that bite a big size animal and then follow it while the bacteria eats away at them and kills them. The bacteria has turned the flesh into a goo that the lizard can eat. I can't believe some goober would keep that lizard for a pet.

[aweyerman]

Maine is the only state without a poisonous snake just in case y'all (gator/bigwater) were thinking about relocating.

[teul2]

[donia]

that makes me squeal quietly to myself.....

[jacksbuddy]

I'm afraid to ask what this is a picture of. I think I'm just thankful that my job has filters on the computers.

[duramax]

Moccasins comprise the genus Agkistrodon, which includes the cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) and copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) in the southeastern United States. Any of the subspecies of Agkistrodon then are Moccasins. Through colloquial use, moccasin has been used to refer to the cottonmouth exclusively. However, the cottonmouth is not technically the only member of the moccasin family.

Agkistrodon genus are snakes that are pit vipers. Agkistrodon is greek for "fish hook" which refers to the shape of their teeth. Not "moccasin family". Cottonmouths and copperheads are the common pit vipers in the area that fall under this genus. But they are in no way classified as "moccasin subspecies". The scientific name for cottonmouth or water moccasin is Agkistrodon piscivorus. Search any herpatology article and it will always be Cottonmouth and then AKA Water moccasin. The name of Water Moccasin came from the leathery feel of the cottonmouths skin that resembled and the fact that cottonmouths can be found in water.

Here is yet another link to further explaining that water moccasin = cottonmouth and only COTTONMOUTH
http://www.natureatcloserange.com/2008/07/water-moccasin.html

and another explaining that Agkistrodon piscivorus = Water moccasin/Cottonmouth.
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-guide/Agkistrodonppiscivorus.htm

I encourage you to find me any reputable scientific article that says Water moccasin, or even moccasin for that matter is in reference to anything other than a cottonmouth.

[Seymore]

Duramax,

I got that information from a Medhelp site for doctors discussing anti venom. I researched it after the dispute you and BR549 were having over what constitutes a mocassin, cottonmouth, water mocassin, watercopperheadedpigmyrattler.

I really could care less what the scientific, zoology, herpetalogy, or whatever else name they actually go by. But it does seem to matter to you and has touched some sort of nerve so you win. You are the guru of snakes and all that involves them. Whatever questions hence forth need to be answered regarding snakes on this website should be addressed to you. Do you feel better now? I'm not going to waste my time trying to find a reputable article to win some internet argument. You win cause I really could care less.

[One Shot Payne]

Im just saying.....

[jacksbuddy]

Nice 'shot'

[One Shot Payne]

I took it with my phone so the pic isnt all that clear. I would have stepped on him if my buddy had'nt seen him

[jacksbuddy]

Shh. Tell everyone THAT's why you are called "One Shot Payne"

[duramax]

Duramax,

I really could care less what the scientific, zoology, herpetalogy, or whatever else name they actually go by. But it does seem to matter to you and has touched some sort of nerve so you win. You are the guru of snakes and all that involves them. Whatever questions hence forth need to be answered regarding snakes on this website should be addressed to you. Do you feel better now? I'm not going to waste my time trying to find a reputable article to win some internet argument. You win cause I really could care less.

Well when were using the scientific names for the species, I thought you might care and wanted to inform you of of the correct science. I wouldn't call myself a guru by any stretch, but always having an interest in snakes as well as having worked with the herpatologist at MSU for a couple years I did learn this.

[Seymore]

Providing info for info sake is one thing but your last sentence comes across as some sort of challenge or dare to find info to contradict you. I don't' give a rats booty about sakes and really could care less. The only thing I want to know is where one is so I can go the other way. You posted several times with scientific references to back up your position as to the correct classification of moccasins. Okay, that's great. Like I said. I don't care and if I misread that last sentence then my apologies. Sure sounded like a pizzin' match over a dang snake.