Moccasins in GURPS

Agkistrodon sp.

Moccasins are diverse North American pit vipers. They are known to wiggle their tails as lures to attrack frogs and lizards to within striking distance, at least as juveniles.

The three species of moccassin are listed below. The default given in the main table is a copperhead.

Species Typical venom Size Range Habitat Notes
Potency Type Typical Maximum
Copperhead, A. contortrix medium hemo 5
necro 5
algesic 10 200 g 1 kg Eastern United States, from the Gulf coast to upstate New York, west to Texas and the border of the Great Plains. Forest, rock outcrops, swamps. Blotch-banded orange-brown in color. Give warning bites without injecting venom as their main threat display.
Cottonmouth or watter moccasin, A. piscivorus medium hemo 0
necro 10
algesic 10 500 g 1 kg Southeastern United States Creaks, streams, marshes, swamps, ponds, lakeshores, irrigation ditches, canals, rice fields, sloughs. Can tolerate brackish water. Usually black colored, but may be brown, tan, gray, olive, or yellow, and may be blotch-banded like the copperhead (above), particularly when young. Threat display is to gape and expose the cotton-white lining of its mouth. Its reputation for aggressiveness is undeserved, possibly a result of confusion with similar appearing harmless colubrid water snakes.
Cantil, A. bilineatus extreme hemo 7
necro 10
algesic 7 50 g 200 g Mexico and Central America. Grassland, savanna, scrub, forest. Habitat bordering rivers or streams is preferred. Nocturnal. Black with speckled white bands. Threat display is open-mouthed gaping.

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Species	Typical venom		Size		Range	Habitat	Notes
Species	Potency	Type	Typical	Maximum	Range	Habitat	Notes
Copperhead, A. contortrix	medium	hemo 5 necro 5 algesic 10	200 g	1 kg	Eastern United States, from the Gulf coast to upstate New York, west to Texas and the border of the Great Plains.	Forest, rock outcrops, swamps.	Blotch-banded orange-brown in color. Give warning bites without injecting venom as their main threat display.
Cottonmouth or watter moccasin, A. piscivorus	medium	hemo 0 necro 10 algesic 10	500 g	1 kg	Southeastern United States	Creaks, streams, marshes, swamps, ponds, lakeshores, irrigation ditches, canals, rice fields, sloughs. Can tolerate brackish water.	Usually black colored, but may be brown, tan, gray, olive, or yellow, and may be blotch-banded like the copperhead (above), particularly when young. Threat display is to gape and expose the cotton-white lining of its mouth. Its reputation for aggressiveness is undeserved, possibly a result of confusion with similar appearing harmless colubrid water snakes.
Cantil, A. bilineatus	extreme	hemo 7 necro 10 algesic 7	50 g	200 g	Mexico and Central America.	Grassland, savanna, scrub, forest. Habitat bordering rivers or streams is preferred.	Nocturnal. Black with speckled white bands. Threat display is open-mouthed gaping.