Copperhead

Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix), pit viper of hilly country in the eastern United States. It ranges from 2 to 4 ft (0.6 to 1 m) in length and is distinguished by its characteristic copper-colored head and coppertoned markings on a chestnut background. The copperhead strikes without warning, and its bite can cause considerable discomfort, although it is seldom fatal to healthy adults. It feeds mainly on small, warm-blooded animals but will eat frogs and insects when driven by hunger.