Identification: 15-55 in; Dark brown or black with vague black or dark brown crossbands; a black and white line runs from the eye to the angle of the mouth; belly brown with large blackish blotches; juveniles have a distinct, boldly crossbanded pattern of brown and pink or orange with a yellow tail; scales keeled.
Habits: Cottonmouths frequent swamplands, ponds, lakes and stream borders, especially those with dense canopies. They're often seen coiled on the embankments, or on logs and stumps in water.
