Head to head
Lowland Copperhead vs Eastern Copperhead
Lowland Copperhead
VS Eastern Copperhead
The lowland copperhead of Australia and the eastern copperhead of the United States share a name but belong to different snake families on different continents.
| Lowland Copperhead | Eastern Copperhead | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Austrelaps superbus | Agkistrodon contortrix |
| Group | An Australian elapid, in the family of cobras and taipans | A North American pit viper |
| Colour | A dark grey to black back, with coppery or reddish flanks and a pale belly in many individuals | A pinkish to tan body crossed by dark hourglass bands that break up its outline against dead leaves |
| Venom | A potent venom, and any bite needs urgent medical treatment | Among the weakest of any North American pit viper, with painful bites but very rare deaths |
| Young | Gives birth to live young | Females give birth to about 4 to 10 live young in late summer |
| Diet | Frogs, lizards, small mammals, and other snakes, including other venomous ones | Mice, voles, shrews, frogs, lizards, small birds, and large insects, and cicadas during emergences |
| Habitat and range | Swamps, creeks, and grassland across southeastern Australia and Tasmania | Deciduous forest, rocky hillsides, stream corridors, and wooded suburbs across the eastern and central United States |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, though local populations have declined as wetlands were drained | Least Concern |
Lowland Copperhead vs Eastern Copperhead: common questions
Are the two copperheads related?
No, the lowland copperhead is an Australian elapid, while the eastern copperhead is a North American pit viper.
Which copperhead is more dangerous?
The lowland copperhead has the more potent venom, while the eastern copperhead's venom is among the weakest of any North American pit viper.
Do both give birth to live young?
Yes, both the lowland copperhead and the eastern copperhead give birth to live young rather than laying eggs.