Genus Agkistrodon is a type of venomous snake that belongs to the pit viper family. The species is commonly known by different names depending on the region, such as cottonmouth snakes, water moccasin, and copperheads. Among these names, cottonmouth snakes refer to the aquatic subspecies of Agkistrodon, and the water moccasin is a synonym derived from the snake's habitat preference. Meanwhile, the copperhead name is associated with the distinctive copper-red color of their head and neck. Moreover, there are several other species within the genus Agkistrodon, including the Central American species known as the fer-de-lance, which is one of the most potent snake venoms in the world.