Rattlesnake - Animals Town

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Rattlesnake

Type: Reptile
Diet: Carnivore
Average lifespan in the wild: 10 to 20 years
Size: 5.5 ft (1.7 m)
Weight: 5 lbs (2.3 kg)
Did you know? Baby rattlers can actually be more dangerous than adults because they have less control over the amount of venom they inject.

The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in North America. Some reach 8 feet (2.4 meters) in length and weigh up to 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms).

Rattlesnake video.

What does a rattlesnake look like?
Rattlesnake are poisonous snakes that belong to the pit viper group and are recognized by the distinctive rattle on the end of their tail. Rattlesnakes vary considerably in color depending on their habitat. In the western states the author has observed pinks, greens, rust colors, and almost black. They tend to blend well with their background.

Where do rattlesnakes live?
These stout-bodied pit vipers generally live in the dry, pine flatwoods, sandy woodlands, and coastal scrub habitats from southern North Carolina to Florida and west to Louisiana. Their pattern of yellow-bordered, light-centered black diamonds makes them among the most strikingly adorned of all North American reptiles.

What does a rattlesnake eat?
They are natural exterminators, surviving on such household pests as rats and mice, as well as squirrels and birds. They track wounded prey by following its heat signature. They use their poison to subdue their prey, small mammals like rabbits and mice.