GENERAL DATA
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Viperidae
Habitat: Sandy forests and coastal areas.
Geographic Distribution: Endemic to the American continent, from Southeastern Canada to Northern Argentina.
Rattlesnakes are poisonous. All the species except one, C. catalinensis, are easily recognizable by the characteristic sound of its rattle which is found at the tip of the tail.
Some species of rattlesnake can reach up to 2.5 meters in length, and 4 kg in weight. Its skin with yellow circles, is marked in the center by black colors (similar to diamonds) makes this type of reptile the best decorated in all of North America.
As its name implies, the rattlesnake is formed by horny cases at the end of the tail that in case of danger allow them to emit a warning sound that it is dangerous and perhaps protect the snake from being stepped on by large mammals.
It is wrongly believed that each year one more ring is added to this rattlesnake, which makes it possible to estimate the age of the animal. However, it is completely false, the growth of the rattlesnake is directly related to the shedding of skin; In other words, for each occasion that the snake sheds its skin, one more ring will grow, and because a snake can molt more than once a year, and even losing the rattle in whole or in part, this method of determining age is not efficient. .
In dangerous situations, rattlesnakes often roll up and put their necks in an "S" shape to attack more quickly. With their tail they emit a warning sound.
The venom of these animals is very strong. It destroys red blood cells and makes blood vessels penetrable. This affects body tissue and circulation. Their bites are tremendously painful and can be fatal to a human.
Look Inside a Rattlesnake's Rattle | Deep Look
Comments
Post a Comment