Eastern Copperhead: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Reptiles of America · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. In Texas, copperheads have been found climbing bushes and trees to hunt freshly emerged cicadas, some about 12 m up.
2. Young copperheads wiggle their yellowish-green tail tip to lure frogs and lizards. This trick is called caudal luring.
3. When threatened, copperheads can vibrate their tails faster than 40 times per second.
4. A newborn copperhead is about 20 cm long and looks like a paler mini adult with a coloured tail tip.
5. Females can store sperm for up to a year. A litter usually has 4 to 7 babies, but can have as many as 20.

The quiz

1. What do copperheads climb into shrubs to catch?

• Cicadas (correct)
• Bird eggs
• Squirrels
• Butterflies

In Texas they have been found high in bushes and trees hunting freshly emerged cicadas.

2. What do young copperheads use to lure frogs and lizards?

• A loud hiss
• A sweet smell
• A yellowish-green tail tip (correct)
• A glowing tongue

Juveniles lure prey with their yellowish-green tail tip.

3. How fast can a threatened copperhead vibrate its tail?

• About 4 times per second
• About 10 times per second
• Once every second
• Faster than 40 times per second (correct)

They can vibrate their tails faster than 40 times per second.

4. How long is a newborn copperhead?

• About 2 cm
• About 20 cm (correct)
• About 60 cm
• About 1 m

A newborn measures about 20 cm.

5. For how long can a female copperhead store sperm?

• Up to a week
• Up to a month
• Up to a year (correct)
• Up to ten years

Females can store sperm for up to a year.

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