The western cottonmouth was once classified as a subspecies of the cottonmouth . However, DNA based studies published in 2008 and 2015, revealed no significant genetic difference between the eastern cottonmouth and the western cottonmouth and synonymized the two subspecies . The resulting taxonomy does not recognizes the western cottonmouth as a valid taxon. Several subsequent reviews and species accounts have followed and supported the revised taxonomy.: 437 p. Information on this snake can be found in the Agkistrodon piscivorus article.

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