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Description
Angler snake (Agkistrotalus arborealus)

Order: Squamates (Squamata), suborder Snakes (Serpentes)

Family: Crotalid snakes (Crotalidae)

Habitat: North America, marshlands of warm-temperate climate.

This is a descendant of the North American water moccasin or cottonmouth. It is a snake of moderate size, about 60 cm in length on average, but is relatively strong and well muscled, especially for a venomous reptile.

Like its’ ancestor, the angler snake lives in the water. Though it can move on dry land easily enough, it prefers to live in shallow water, only occasionally rising to the surface to inhale air. Though it is somewhat stout, the neck of this snake is relatively long, and its nostrils are located on the top of its snout, so it only has to emerge a very small part of its body to replenish its air; it can hold its breath for 20-30 minutes.

The angler snake is an ambush predator. Its’ yellowish-black body resembles a submerged stick, a resemblance further enhanced by its skin outgrowths. Those that grow around its lips, however, resemble those of small worms or mosquito larvae: small fish, tadpoles, newts and similar creatures come to investigate and the snake strikes, killing them with its venom and swallowing them whole. (Hence the name.) On occasion, it also ambushes small mammals and water birds as they swim obliviously past it, failing to recognize the angler snake for what it is.

The angler snake’s venom is rather powerful, so only the biggest mammals and carnivorous fish attack it, trying to overwhelm the snake before it bites back.

The angler snake gives birth to live young on land, where it haves fewer predators, but soon returns to the water. The young snakes, before they reach about 20 cm in length at least, prefer to hunt on land, emerging at night, hiding in burrows or beneath fallen trees during the day. When, however, they do reach 20-25 cm in length, they move to the shallows and spent most of their lives there.

The average lifespan of an angler snake is 60 years.

Description
Angler snake (Agkistrotalus arborealus)

Order: Squamates (Squamata), suborder Snakes (Serpentes)

Family: Crotalid snakes (Crotalidae)

Habitat: North America, marshlands of warm-temperate climate.

This is a descendant of the North American water moccasin or cottonmouth. It is a snake of moderate size, about 60 cm in length on average, but is relatively strong and well muscled, especially for a venomous reptile.

Like its’ ancestor, the angler snake lives in the water. Though it can move on dry land easily enough, it prefers to live in shallow water, only occasionally rising to the surface to inhale air. Though it is somewhat stout, the neck of this snake is relatively long, and its nostrils are located on the top of its snout, so it only has to emerge a very small part of its body to replenish its air; it can hold its breath for 20-30 minutes.

The angler snake is an ambush predator. Its’ yellowish-black body resembles a submerged stick, a resemblance further enhanced by its skin outgrowths. Those that grow around its lips, however, resemble those of small worms or mosquito larvae: small fish, tadpoles, newts and similar creatures come to investigate and the snake strikes, killing them with its venom and swallowing them whole. (Hence the name.) On occasion, it also ambushes small mammals and water birds as they swim obliviously past it, failing to recognize the angler snake for what it is.

The angler snake’s venom is rather powerful, so only the biggest mammals and carnivorous fish attack it, trying to overwhelm the snake before it bites back.

The angler snake gives birth to live young on land, where it haves fewer predators, but soon returns to the water. The young snakes, before they reach about 20 cm in length at least, prefer to hunt on land, emerging at night, hiding in burrows or beneath fallen trees during the day. When, however, they do reach 20-25 cm in length, they move to the shallows and spent most of their lives there.

The average lifespan of an angler snake is 60 years.