Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortix), a venomous snake in the viper family, found in Conestee Nature Preserve, Greenville, South Carolina.

Eastern #Copperhead in Conestee Nature Preserve, #Greenville #SC

Taxonomy
Order: #Squamata
Family: #Viperidae
Genus: #Agkistrodon
Species: A. contortix

#reptile #snake #venomous #nature #wildlife #outdoors #Preserve #park #photography

Agkistrodon conanti, the Florida cottonmouth; Monroe county, Florida (14 March 2018).

One species I've missed since leaving Florida for Chicago: the Florida cottonmouth (photographed here in Monroe county, FL, back in March of 2018). In my experience, this venomous species is actually quite reserved and non-aggressive. I love 'em and miss 'em. || #AgkistrodonConanti || #Agkistrodon

Agkistrodon conanti, the Florida cottonmouth; Miami-Dade county, Florida (14 March 2023).

Defensive display of Agkistrodon conanti, the Florida cottonmouth; Miami-Dade county, Florida (14 March 2023). Inexplicably, many people interpret this as aggression. It is not. This is a defensive posture. More eco-photography at floridensis.com. #agkistrodonconanti #agkistrodon #herps

Agkistrodon conanti, the Florida cottonmouth; Monroe county, Florida (14 March 2018).

Agkistrodon conanti, the Florida cottonmouth; Monroe county, Florida (14 March 2018). Despite their folkloric reputation, I find this species to be anything *but* aggressive. Venomous, yes -- but far from aggressive. More eco-photography at floridensis.com. #agkistrodonconanti #agkistrodon #herps