RATTLESNAKE

Timber Rattlesnake Anatomy

Prairie Rattlesnake

Anatomy

RATTLESNAKE SKELETON

Rattle

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ttle

Rattlesnakes receive their name from the rattle located at the end of their tails, which, when shaken, makes a loud rattling noise that deters predators or serves as a warning to passersby. The rattle is composed of a series of hollow, interlocked segments made of keratin, which are created by modifying the scales that cover the tip of the tail. The contraction of special "shaker" muscles in the tail causes these segments to vibrate against one another, making the rattling noise (which is amplified because the segments are hollow). The muscles that cause the rattle to shake are some of the fastest known, firing 50 times per second on average, sustained for up to three hours.

HABITATRattlesnakes are native to the Americas, living in diverse habitats from Southwestern Canada to Central Argentina. The large majority of species live in the American Southwest and Mexico.

Some rattlesnake species hibernate in the colder winter months.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), responsible for the majority of venomous snakebites in North America, coiled in defensive posture with rattle erect.

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Rattlesnakes consume mice, rats, small birds and other small animals. They play an important ecological role by limiting the size of rodent populations, which prevents crop damage and stabilizes ecosystems. PREY, MATE & HIBERNATE

VENOM

Click icon to add pictureRattlesnakes are a group of venomous snakes. Rattlesnakes are predators who live in a wide array of habitats. They kill their prey with a venomous bite, rather than by constricting. All rattlesnakes possess a set of fangs with which they inject large quantities of hemotoxic venom. The venom travels through the bloodstream, destroying tissue and causing swelling, internal bleeding, and intense pain.

Most rattlesnake species mate during the summer or fall, while some species mate only in the spring, or during both the spring and fall. They are vivipar (give birth), not ovovivipar.

REPRODUCTION

EFFECT OF BITES ON HUMANS

Rattlesnake bites are rarely fatal to humans, if treated promptly. Between 7,000 and 8,000 people are estimated to have been bitten by venomous snakes in the United States each year, and about five of those die. The most important factor in determining survival following a severe envenomation is the amount of time elapsed between the bite and treatment. Most deaths occur between 6 and 48 hours after the bite. However, if antivenom treatment is given within 1–2 hours of the bite, the probability of recovery is greater than 99%.

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