SNAKES OF MISSISSIPPI OUR STATE HAS 55 KNOWN SPECIES OF SNAKES SIX SPECIES ARE VENOMOUS

VENOMOUS SNAKES FACIAL PITS - INFRARED IMAGING VERTICAL, ELLIPTICAL PUPILS SINGLE SCALE ROWS UNDER TAIL RATTLE OR BUTTON ON TAIL RED/YELLOW/BLACK RINGS

EASTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE LARGEST VENOMOUS SNAKE IN NORTH AMERICA 5-6 1/2 FEET - UP TO 8 FT PIT VIPERS - FACIAL PITS BETWEEN EYES AND NOSTRILS - “SEE” INFRARED RADIATION

ADAPTATIONS AMBUSH PREDATOR LARGE HEAD AND BODY ENVENOMATION - FANGS + VENOM FACIAL PITS

ADAPTATIONS JACOBSEN ORGAN - IN ROOF OF MOUTH, CONNECTED TO OLFACTORY NERVE (SMELL) TONGUE FLICKS CONSTANTLY TO PICK UP SCENT MOLECULES AND SEND THEM TO JACOBSEN’S ORGAN

ADAPTATIONS HINGED JAWS CAMOUFLAGE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL DIGESTION - DIGESTIVE ENZYMES IN VENOM

TIMBER RATTLER (CANEBRAKE) 3 - 4 1/2 FEET NEED SOUTHERN EXPOSURE PREFER FORESTS WITH THICK UNDERSTORY FEED ON MICE, SQUIRRELS, RABBITS, BIRDS, ETC.

PYGMY RATTLESNAKE ADULTS - 18 INCHES LONG COILED = SIZE OF PINECONE RARELY SEEN DIFFICULT TO HEAR RATTLER

COPPERHEAD MOST COMMON VENOMOUS SNAKE VENOM NOT EXTREMELY POTENT, SELDOM FATAL SUCCESSFUL - LIVE IN URBANIZATION FREEZE UPON DANGER - MANY ARE RUN OVER

COTTONMOUTH/ WATER MOCCASIN ONLY VENOMOUS WATER SNAKE SEMI - AQUATIC EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE - WILL APPROACH WITHOUT CAUSE DERIVES ITS NAME FROM HABIT OF GAPING MOUTH OPEN TO SHOW WHITE INSIDE JAWS SNAP SHUT, UNLIKE STRIKE/RELEASE OF COPPERHEAD

CORAL SNAKE FIXED FANGS, POOR VENOM DELIVERY SYSTEM HANGS ON WHILE BITING TO INJECT MORE VENOM ONLY POISONOUS SNAKE IN NORTH AMERICA TO LAY EGGS VENOM IS A NEUROTOXIN - ATTACKS NERVOUS SYSTEM HIGH PERCENTAGE OF FATALITIES

NONVENOMOUS SNAKES NONVENOMOUS SNAKES OFTEN MIMIC COLOR, HEAD SHAPE, HISSING, AND TAIL VIBRATION OF VENOMOUS SNAKES. WHY?

RIBBON SNAKE

GARTER SNAKE

WATER SNAKE

KING SNAKE

MILK SNAKE

GREEN SNAKE

RACER

AVOIDING SNAKE BITES