Florida Cottonmouth vs. Eastern Copperhead
Young cottonmouths are banded like copperheads, and both are pit vipers (Florida Museum). A: A broad dark stripe hiding the eye in the Florida Cottonmouth; a plain copper head, the eye not hidden in the Eastern Copperhead. B: Crossbands full of dark spots and speckles in the Florida Cottonmouth; hourglass bands with no dark spots (at most one) in the Eastern Copperhead. Adult copperheads keep the pattern of the young; adult cottonmouths darken until nearly plain. Both are venomous.
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