Two Water Moccasins fighting

[fishman10]

By shear luck last Memorial Day I was driving over a bridge and saw these two Cottonmouths dancing in the water. I stopped and got video and these pictures. They never even notice I was around even though I was within three feet of them at some points. At first I thought it was a male and female courting before mating. I found some evidence online that suggested I was right. Later I was told by some people I consider herp expert that it was two males fighting over a female. I found a lot of evidence to suggest that might be the case. Either way it was the first time I have ever seen this behavior in person.

Photographs
water moccasin (http://www.gather.com/viewSlideshow.action?albumId=34063)

video
Two cottonmouths courting / mating - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCxKmg_jJt0)

[Kingsnakechris]

That's pretty cool! Thanks for sharing. I dont know enough to say one way or the other but it kinda reminded me of cobras fighting, the way they slam one another down repeatedly...

[alessia55]

wow that's so awesome that you got to see that!

[jaleely]

That is so cool! I'll have to look that up now! First impression, though, to me i thought they were mating as well. You'd think they would be biting, or at least wrapping and like, squeezing if they were fighting. I'll have to look it up! cool.

[youngster]

As Chris said, O hannahs display an interaction very similar to that when two males are fighting over territory/mates.

[Will0W783]

Wow, that is soo cool that you got to see male dominance fighting in action! I've read about it- a lot of terrestrial pitvipers do it, but I've never been lucky enough to see it.

Your photography skills are amazing too! Thank you for sharing :)

[Wolfus_305]

Those are amazing pictures!!