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“History Question For Agkistrodon Enthusiast”
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by ALA_snake33 on January 19, 2007
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As you all probably know the Name Water Moccasin, is probably the most commonly used of all the Common Names for Agkistrodon piscivorous. Well, my question is. Do any of ya’ll know what gave the Old Timers the idea to use the Name “Moccasin”, to describe the Cottonmouth?
Be Safe Ya’ll, Happy Herping : Wally
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RE: “History Question For Agkistrodon Enthusiast”
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by bush_viper17 on January 19, 2007
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They started being called moccasins because the skin texture feels like the moccasins the native americans wore.
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RE: “History Question For Agkistrodon Enthusiast”
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by earthguy on January 19, 2007
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I've heard that too, Jeremy. Unfortunately I am not sure that anyone knows for sure the etymology of "Water Moccasin" (other than the fact that they are generally found near water). Wally, I think the preferred common name for that species is 'cottonmouth' due to the inability of most people to differentiate between them and common watersnakes. The term "Water Moccasin" has lead to the untimely demise of many an innocent Nerodia. At very least I use the term cottonmouth (as do all of my students if they know what's good for them ;) ). I quickly glanced through the Gloyd and Conant monograph, but found nothing. I'm interested to hear what you guy's find.
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RE: “History Question For Agkistrodon Enthusiast”
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by kacz on January 19, 2007
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A quick search indicates that the term moccasin, in all of it’s various spellings, originates from a native-american word, most likely Algonquin. It refers to the leather, most commonly deerskin, footwear worn by the native tribes. While I have no basis with which I can debunk the texture theory, it does seem counter-intuitive. The texture of a scaled reptile skin is a far cry from that of deerskin. (Although, a snakeskin moccasin would have been one of the first cleated sports shoes!!)
One of the primary features of the soft-soled moccasin shoe was its ability to stalk quietly in leaf litter (that’s right – salient silent slinking!) Of all the pit vipers in North America only the cottonmouths and copperheads do not have a rattle, a specific noise making structure on their tail. In fact, the copperhead has historically been referred to as the “upland moccasin”. Again, I have no sources to bolster this opinion, but the term moccasin is more descriptive of the snake’s inability to rattle loudly as a warning.
Paul M. Kaczmarczik
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RE: “History Question For Agkistrodon Enthusiast”
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by LarryDFishel on January 19, 2007
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Ah, but for ceremonial purposes, and the souvenier trade (what most early pale-faces would have seen) those leather moccasins were then covered with intricate, patterned beadwork.
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RE: “History Question For Agkistrodon Enthusiast”
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by kacz on January 19, 2007
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Adorned ceremonial moccasins, worn with powwow regalia, seem to be associated more with the plains Indians (according to Wikipedia). I have to assume that the term for the snake first entered the lexicon on the east coast, where the explorers and settlers first interacted with both the snakes and the native Americans. I am also assuming the reference to the snake predates the westward expansion. Compared to snakes like the corn snake, I don’t see the cottonmouth and it’s relatively somber tones eliciting a comparison to ornate footwear. There are a lot better candidates than A. piscivorous if that were the case. If you make a comparison to the rough texture of a beaded moccasin then I would expect the term to encompass the Nerodia, and refer to a much wider range of snakes.
On the other hand, when the term is used to indicate a silent viper, there seems to be a much better correlation between the definition of the term and the snakes to which it is applied. So that’s my story and I’m sticking to it – for now!!
Paul M. Kaczmarczik
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RE: “History Question For Agkistrodon Enthusiast”
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by ALA_snake33 on January 19, 2007
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Paul: I do see the point you are making, that the “Being Silent” part of the Moccasin could have a passable correlation with it being used for the Snake itself. Now on the other hand, I can see what Jeremy is saying too. The texture of the Cottonmouth’s Body and most of the Snakes that make up the Genus Nerodia, are very Leathery Feeling.
Joshua: I also referenced Conant & Gloyd’s “The Snakes Of The Agkistrodon Complex” and Found Nothing about the Name Moccasin, but did find a lot of good info on other Common Names. By the way, that is one of the Best and Most Knowledge Packed Books you can own (if you are an Agkistrodon nut like me).
Maybe one day, we will find out the actual reasons for the Common Names given to some Species.
Be Safe Ya’ll, Happy Herping : Wally
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by snakeguy101 on January 20, 2007
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the term water moccasin translates to "water water snake"
mocasin was used by the indians as a term used for all water dwelling snakes and when the settlers came in to their territory, they called it a water mocasin.
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RE: “History Question For Agkistrodon Enthusiast”
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by kacz on January 21, 2007
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Chris, sounds like you have something substantive there. What's your reference? So far the best I've come up with is a 1941 book "Field Book of Snakes" by K. P. Schmidt and D. D. Davis (Putnam & Sons) which refers to the entire genus Agkistridon as moccasins. This may be significant if you consider the lighter brown color similarity between deerskin and copperheads, thus bostering the idea of a visual origin.
Paul M. Kaczmarczik
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