Florida Ecosystem: Cottonmouth Snake Traditional Cache
Florida Ecosystem: Cottonmouth Snake
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This cache was placed to celebrate the 500th anniversary of exploration & history in Florida on June 8th & 9th Viva Florida 500 at Paynes Prairie Preserve: Event GC48857 You are looking for a Regular sized cache with some swag for the kiddies :)
Cottonmouth Snakes Agkistrodon piscivorus – Piscivorus means “fish-eating” Cottonmouths are venomous snakes commonly found at Paynes Prairie. The origin of the name “Cottonmouth” comes from the animal’s defensive behavior of coiling up in a circle and opening its mouth widely, displaying the large fangs and classic cotton white mouth. Their native range is primarily in the southern cotton growing region. Sometimes they are called “water moccasins”. In referring to these snakes, however, the name “moccasin” should be avoided, for it is misleading. Some people may apply the same term to the nonpoisonous Water Snakes. They are the only native venomous snake species that are semi-aquatic and spend the majority of their lives in or around water. They are a fairly large snake reaching up to 6 feet in length, but the majority is 3-4 feet. They have very broad triangular shaped heads and elliptical pupils – these traits help distinguish them from other water snakes which have an oval pupil. They have striping along the broad side of their head – another feature that will differentiate them from water snakes that may appear otherwise similar in color. Young cottonmouths have much brighter colors and a nearly fluorescent yellow tail. These colors help them camouflage on the forest floor. They use their brightly colored tails as bait to lure food. Young cottonmouths are just as venomous as adults. As the snakes mature their color gets significantly darker and the patterns are much less obvious. All members of this genus have facial pits and all the other characteristics of the pit vipers. Scales are keeled – a feature that separates them from their cousin the Copperhead. They eat mice, small birds, lizards, small snakes, amphibians, fish, insects, and almost any animal they are able to swallow. Their mainstay is fishes.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Fghzcl