Southern copperhead range

[SCReptiles]

We collected a Southern Copperhead from Dade County, GA last night (Sand Mtn.) According to the Patterson field guide, this sub-species of copperhead is only found from the bottom of the state to about 50 miles south of the TN/GA state line. This specimen was collected only about 5 miles south of the line. It’s perfectly clean, only 3 spots in between the cross bands. Here is a map of the collection spot, will post pics of the specimen in the next couple of days.

[ChurleR]

Nice find, cool to know that <i>A. c. contortrix</i> has either inhabited more Northern areas, or is moving to more Northern areas.

Peterson field guide says the same thing, a Audobon field guide is no help whatsoever on the subject.

[BWSmith]

It is difficult to say since sortherns and southerns integrade so much. It my just be some recessive southern bloodline coming out. Of course, I think that there are too many subspecies of Coppers as it is.

[SCReptiles]

Here are the pics of the southern that was collected only 5 miles from the TN/GA state line.

Here is a shot from the side. Notice only two background sections have any spotting.

http://secw.bravepages.com/Chuck/scr/souther_copper_side.jpg

Here is a close up head shot.

http://secw.bravepages.com/Chuck/scr/souther_copper_head.jpg

Here is a contrasting pic of the southern and a northern that was collected under the same piece of tin.

http://secw.bravepages.com/Chuck/scr/southern_northern.jpg

[BWSmith]

100% Integrade ;) . But mainly Northern. Most of the bands meet, spots in the base of the bands, and spots along the spine all point to Northern. It does have the crown spots of a Southern and a slightly more defined face marking than most notherns.

Very pretty snake none-the-less. I live right in the integrade area, so about everything I pull out of people's yards here are crosses.