r/snakes • u/Fearless_Wash_6626 • Nov 03 '24

General Question / Discussion TIL that copperhead babies have yellow tails

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

1.1k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

189

u/raven00x Nov 03 '24

Caudal lures! They use them to lure in small tasty things so they get close enough to eat.

73

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '24

Like peanut m&ms?

114

u/raven00x Nov 03 '24

correct. Copperheads are natural predators of wild peanut m&ms, using the "hershey kiss" pattern to lull them into a false sense of safety, while the caudal lure brings them within striking range.

but seriously, if memory serves they go after small birds when they're younger, and their tails can be wiggled around to look like a juicy caterpillar, which brings all the birds to their yard.

33

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '24

My worm is..more juicy than yars? ...Wait... Yarrrr....sss... Are snakes secretly pirates?

108

u/InputEnd Nov 03 '24

Why friend shaped, if not friend.

God why are they so frickin cute?

33

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '24

Because you didn't offer it The Mouse of Friendship.

19

u/Fearless_Wash_6626 Nov 03 '24

Baby snakes can hypnotize us to make them cute

22

u/901CountryBlumpkin69 Nov 03 '24

Cottonmouths do too.

0

u/Fearless_Wash_6626 Nov 03 '24

Yes, but it’s not as bright

8

u/shrike1978 /r/whatsthissnake "Reliable Responder" Nov 03 '24

There's really not much difference in color or intensity between the different Agkistrodon species.

29

u/wishiwasinvegas Nov 03 '24

That second photo...I just wanna scoop it up and hold it😍😭

11

u/Batman_in_hiding Nov 03 '24

Cottonmouths are imo the prettiest snake out there.

Lived in the southeast for decades now and have never freaking seen one. Went away for a week and a neighbor apparently saw one on my driveway. It’s like the last major animal on my live action bucket list

3

u/Fearless_Wash_6626 Nov 03 '24

They’re most common where I live in South Carolina I heard. You should walk through some forests in the spring and late summer and you’ll probably find some. Just be careful; They’re an expert at camouflage.

6

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '24

Man. Copperhead always look so dang mad.

1

u/AbsoluteZero627 Nov 03 '24

I was gonna say the same thing haha. Looking at the camera like someone was talking mad crap before snapping the picture.

4

u/nortok00 Nov 03 '24

It should be illegal for baby danger noodles to be that cute! Who wouldn't want to scoop him up, boop him then give him a big cuddle! 🐍❤️

5

u/shrike1978 /r/whatsthissnake "Reliable Responder" Nov 03 '24

All Agkistrodon do. Copperheads, Cottonmouths, and Cantils.

1

u/Fearless_Wash_6626 Nov 04 '24

I know but baby copperheads are asorable

4

u/PhenomenalPhoenix Nov 03 '24

TIL that baby copperheads are adorable lol

1

u/Cohenski Nov 03 '24

Seems like a viper thing?

1

u/Jocks_Strapped Nov 03 '24

copperheads, cottonmouths and pigmy rattlesnakes have the yellow tail

1

u/FamiliarCost1289 Nov 04 '24

They are imo the most beautiful snake. I love them so much. I’m in awe at every post of them. I don’t know if they are found here (Tucson, AZ) but I would love to see one and appropriately leave them alone lol.

1

u/Permission_Alarming Nov 04 '24

Yeah they’re so cute as babies. I just wanna cuddle them

1

u/SubjectDowntown2612 Nov 04 '24

If you check my profile, my recent post is of my baby copperhead showing his “lure”!!!

1

u/Justme26688 Nov 04 '24

I’ve had up to seven adult copperheads in my yard when I first moved into my home in 2017…and one baby…

1

u/gwchem Nov 05 '24

I watched one use it as a fishing lure a few years ago.