Rattle snake

Description:

The rattle area of this snake will only start to make noise after the first shedding of the skin. Each time that the snake goes through that process they will add more rattle to it. You can tell the age of the Rattlesnake due to the length of that area. During rainy weather though the rattle can get wet and then it won’t give any noise for a warning.

The colors and the sizes will depend on the location of the Rattlesnake as well as what it eats. They often blend in well in coloration to fit in with their surroundings. They can range in size from very small to a couple of feet in length. They can strike extremely fast.

Diet:

 Rattlesnakes are pit vipers—they have heat sensing organs located in pits near the eyes. These pits allow them “see” the heat signature of prey. Even in complete darkness, the snake will be able to accurately strike at prey, because their meal is warmer than the surrounding environment. Rattlesnakes lay in wait for a small mammal to venture nearby and then strike the unsuspecting animal with its venomous fangs. This hunting technique is called ambush predation. The rattlesnake knows when to lay low, because they have specialized Jacobson’s organs that give them a heightened sense of smell to detect prey. These organs are located on the roof of the mouth, which is why many people think that snakes smell with their tongues. Actually, they pick up scent particles on the tongue and deposit them on the Jacobson’s organs. A meal lasts a rattlesnake much longer than a human—an adult rattler only needs to eat once every two weeks! Aside from rodents, rattlesnakes also eat reptiles and insects.

Reproduction:

Mating season for the rattlesnake depends on the climate, habitat, and availability of food. The males will go looking for females to see if she is receptive. Some females mate annually but others will do so only every couple of years. She will be intolerant so soon after mating he will have to leave.

The females will create eggs in her body and then release them. As soon as the eggs are from her body they will emerge. She can have up to 20 at a time depending on the species of Rattlesnake. She will leave them as soon as they are born so they will have to find food and shelter on their own. The young have full fangs and they usually have a venom that is stronger than that of the adults.

Typical Lifespan: 

10 to 25 years

Scientific Name:

 Crotalus spp. and Sistrurus spp.

Habitat:

 They live in a variety of habitats, including forest, grasslands, scrub brush, swamps, and deserts, and they are also capable swimmers. Almost all reptiles, including rattlesnakes, are ectothermic (cold-blooded). Ectotherms cannot regulate their body temperatures like warm-blooded animals can. Instead, they rely on their surroundings to provide heat, which means that they can’t be active in cold weather. To keep from freezing, rattlesnakes congregate in dens and form swarming balls with their bodies.