Broad-banded copperhead (Agkistrodon laticinctus)
The broad-banded copperhead is a venomous pit viper in the family Viperidae. GBIF holds 564 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 3 states, most of all Texas (374), Oklahoma (181) and Kansas (7). Its observation records peak in May.
Agkistrodon laticinctus, commonly known as the broad-banded copperhead, is a venomous pit viper species, formerly considered a subspecies of Agkistrodon contortrix, which is found in the central United States, from Kansas, through Oklahoma and throughout central Texas.
From Wikipedia: Agkistrodon laticinctus, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the broad-banded copperhead poisonous or venomous?
Yes. The broad-banded copperhead is a pit viper (family Viperidae), like every rattlesnake, copperhead and cottonmouth in the U.S. Its bite needs emergency care: call 911 and keep the bitten limb still. Antivenom is given in hospital.
Snakes often mistaken for it
Species commonly confused with copperheads and recorded in the same states: central plains milksnake (recorded in all 3 of its states), corn snake (recorded in all 3 of its states), eastern hog-nosed snake (recorded in all 3 of its states), eastern milksnake (recorded in all 3 of its states) and northern water snake (recorded in all 3 of its states).
Which states have the broad-banded copperhead?
The broad-banded copperhead's U.S. record is concentrated: Texas alone holds 66% of licensed records. It is listed in 3 states in all; the next are Oklahoma (181) and Kansas (7).
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 374 | 0.9% | 31st of 86 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 181 | 1.4% | 25th of 50 |
| 3 | Kansas | 7 | 0.0% | 44th of 44 |
When is the broad-banded copperhead seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the broad-banded copperhead run mostly March through October, peaking in May with 28% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 3% of them.
Where the broad-banded copperhead is recorded in each state
Texas
Texas holds 374 licensed records, the 31st most recorded of 86 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Texas run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Wilson County, Dallas County and Tarrant County. Next come Travis County (22) and Bastrop County (20).
Oklahoma
Oklahoma holds 181 licensed records, the 25th most recorded of 50 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Oklahoma come from Marshall County, Carter County and Comanche County. Next come Payne County (14) and Osage County (11).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marshall County | Oklahoma | 69 | 12.2% |
| 2 | Wilson County | Texas | 44 | 7.8% |
| 3 | Dallas County | Texas | 33 | 5.9% |
| 4 | Tarrant County | Texas | 30 | 5.3% |
| 5 | Travis County | Texas | 22 | 3.9% |
| 6 | Carter County | Oklahoma | 20 | 3.5% |
| 7 | Comanche County | Oklahoma | 20 | 3.5% |
| 8 | Bastrop County | Texas | 20 | 3.5% |
| 9 | Montague County | Texas | 19 | 3.4% |
| 10 | Parker County | Texas | 19 | 3.4% |
| 11 | Denton County | Texas | 19 | 3.4% |
| 12 | Payne County | Oklahoma | 14 | 2.5% |
| 13 | Gonzales County | Texas | 13 | 2.3% |
| 14 | Osage County | Oklahoma | 11 | 2.0% |
| 15 | Palo Pinto County | Texas | 11 | 2.0% |
How recent are the broad-banded copperhead records?
Records of the broad-banded copperhead span old collections and new observations: 50% date from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 2017. The oldest dated record is from 1907; the busiest year was 2026, with 50 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 2 | 0.4% |
| 1910s | 1 | 0.2% |
| 1920s | 10 | 1.8% |
| 1930s | 8 | 1.4% |
| 1940s | 24 | 4.3% |
| 1950s | 67 | 12.1% |
| 1960s | 55 | 9.9% |
| 1970s | 23 | 4.1% |
| 1980s | 9 | 1.6% |
| 1990s | 16 | 2.9% |
| 2000s | 22 | 4.0% |
| 2010s | 79 | 14.2% |
| 2020s | 240 | 43.2% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 30 counties where the broad-banded copperhead is most recorded, 17 are also top counties for the lined snake, more than for any other snake. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Lined snake | 17 |
| Western rat snake | 16 |
| Plain-bellied watersnake | 15 |
| Rough earthsnake | 15 |
| Speckled kingsnake | 15 |
| DeKay's brown snake | 14 |
| Rough greensnake | 14 |
| Diamondback water snake | 13 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other species of the genus Agkistrodon with profiles here: Eastern copperhead, Northern cottonmouth and Florida cottonmouth.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.