Reptiles – North American Nature

Rattlesnakes are venomous snakes that inject poison using their fangs. The purpose of this is to disable and kill their prey, so that the snake can then eat. They also use their fangs to protect themselves against attack. The fact that rattlesnakes are poisonous makes them creatures to be feared by human beings. There are 15 species of rattlesnake in North America: Black-tailed rattlesnakeEastern diamondback rattlesnakeMassasaugaMojave rattlesnakePygmy rattlesnakeRed diamond rattlesnakeRidge-nosed rattlesnakeRock rattlesnakeSidewinder rattlesnakeSpeckled rattlesnakeTiger rattlesnakeTimber rattlesnakeTwin- spotted rattlesnakeWestern rattlesnakeWestern diamond rattlesnake The venom that rattlesnakes inject differs from that injected by other species of snakes. It can damage blood cells and tissue, resulting in hemorrhaging, organ damage and failure, and ultimately death. Rattlesnakes are pit vipers. There are two genera of viper in the United States. The first is the genus Agkistrodon. Two snakes comprise this genus: the Copperhead and the Cottonmouth. I have included these at the end of this article. The other genus of viper found in the US is genus Crotalus - the rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes are so-called because they warn predators off by using a rattle at the end of their tails. If you want to know the most dangerous spiders in North America, find out here in this top 10 list. Black-tailed rattlesnake Ken Bosma Flickr CC2.0 Black-tailed Rattlesnake The black-tailed rattlesnake is a medium-sized species that ranges from 30-42 inches in length. True to their name, they can be recognized by their black tail scales. This is extremely handy as their body colors can range from brown, black, greens, and yellows. The black-tailed rattlesnake can be found from Central Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in the U.S. They can also be found in Mexico. They can be seen moving straight forward or sidewinding. They are a terrestrial rattlesnake, although they can swim. They can be found in deserts, grasslands, mountainous regions, and rocky areas. They have been found at altitudes up to 6900 feet. They are a docile rattlesnake and will only rattle when cornered. Bites are quite rare, although they do have larger venom glands than most other rattlesnakes. However, this is due to the toxicity of the venom, which is less toxic and generally not fatal to humans. Eastern Diamondback - Peter Paplanus Flickr CC2.0 Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake The largest of the rattlesnakes in the Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake, which can reach eight feet in length. It is not only the largest in the US but also the largest rattlesnake in the world. It boasts the largest fangs and the most potent venom. Eastern Diamondbacks have an easily recognizable diamond pattern along their length, with each diamond being bordered by light-colored scales. Their range is modest compared to some other rattlesnakes, being limited to Florida and the coastal area to the north. Massasauga Peter Paplanus Flickr CC2.0 Massasauga The massasauga lives in North America and can be found throughout Canada and the Midwestern United States. It has a diamond-shaped head, which helps it track prey and capture them with its jaws. The massasauga is a small rattlesnake that lives in the Great Lakes region of North America. They can be found in Ontario and from New York down to Arizona. The snake has an average length of about 23 inches, although they have been known to grow up to almost double on rare occasions. They are a grey or tan color with a row down its back of rounded brown or black spots or blotches. On either side of the large spots, they have three smaller rows of spots. Young snakes are paler than adults. Along with pygmy rattlesnakes, the massasauga has nine larger scales on top of their heads rather than many small ones. Want to know what the largest reptiles in North America are? Find out here. Mojave rattlesnake BLM Nevada Flickr CC2.0 Mojave Rattlesnake Mojave rattlesnakes are one of the most dangerous snakes in North America and are highly venomous. Their venom is known to be one of the most deadly venoms to humans. They are found across southern California, Nevada, Utah, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, where they can be seen sunning themselves on rocks or hunting rodents. The Mojave Rattlesnake is a pit viper species with two venomous glands at the rear of its head between its eye and nostril. The Mojave Rattlesnake is an impressive animal with a large body size between two and four feet. Although known as the Mojave rattlesnake, much of their range is outside of the Mojave desert. Their color ranges from light green and brown to dark gray or black, with dark diamond markings on their back. Their diet consists primarily of rodents that hunt down by moving across the ground using sidewinding movements or climbing into bushes and other low vegetation. Pygmy rattlesnake Peter Paplanus Flickr CC2.0 Pygmy Rattlesnake The pygmy rattlesnake is related to the more well-known diamondback and can be found in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Oklahoma. As their name suggests they are small snakes with a slender body that grows to about two feet. Their coloration is usually brown or gray and they have black spots on their back that resemble ovals with regular edges. The pygmy rattlesnake is unable to produce much venom and it doesnt contain any neurotoxins. However, a bite would cause pain for several days. Along with the massasauga, pygmy rattlesnakes have nine large scales on top of their heads rather than many small ones. Do you want to know which reptiles live in swamps? Find out in this article I wrote Red diamond rattlesnake Gilaman Flickr CC2.0 Red Diamond Rattlesnake The red diamond rattlesnake can be found in southern parts of California. They can grow up to about 4 1/2 feet, although most reach between 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 feet. They have a large head that is almost twice as wide as their bodies and turn a reddish color as they get older. Juveniles are often grayish. Along with the eastern and western diamond rattlesnake, the red diamond rattlesnake is the third snake commonly known as a diamondback. They have dark, diamond-shaped blotches on their back, outlined by a lighter color. They smell their prey by using their tongue which they use to collect smells before passing them to the top of their mouth and their smelling organ, the Jacobson's organ. Do you know why animals dont sunburn? Find out some of the best adaptations here. Ridge-nosed rattlesnake Bettina Arrigoni Flickr CC2.0 Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake The ridge-nosed rattlesnake is also known as Willard's rattlesnake, named after the person who discovered it, Frank Cottle Willard, in 1897. The ridge-nosed rattlesnake is quite small with a length of up to 2 feet. They have a dark brown color with horizontal stripes of white or pale colors. They can be identified by upturned scales along the sides of its nose, giving it the ridge-nosed name. They are quite rare to sight as they can only be found at higher altitudes in woodlands. They can be found in Arizona and New Mexico. They eat a variety of food including birds, lizards, insects, and mammals. Do you want to know which reptiles live in swamps? Find out in this article I wrote Rock rattlesnake Alan Couch Flickr CC2.0 Rock Rattlesnake The rock rattlesnake is a small snake that reaches about one foot long. They have been found in many different colors, and this depends on the area and habitat they are found. The rock rattlesnake is also known as the green rattlesnake and the blue rattlesnake. However, they often come in pink, light gray, and darker colors. They can be found in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, and are one of the least aggressive snakes on this list. They like to keep hidden, even keeping their tails from rattling unless they need to. However, due to living around rocks, many hikers get bitten every year by this species. Their venom can be dangerous but there is an antivenin available. Sidewinder rattlesnake Gilaman Flickr CC2.0 Sidewinder Rattlesnake The sidewinder rattlesnake gets its name from the way it moves across its habitat. The sidewinder doesnt move by sliding ahead like most snakes do, but instead uses parts of its body to move parts of its body sideways at the same time by lifting its body up. The main reason for this type of locomotion is due to the habitat that it lives in. They are generally found in deserts in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. They grow up to 2 1/2 feet long and have a background of pink, gray, buff, or cream, with dorsal patterns. They are not as venomous as most other snakes on this list but can still cause a lot of pain and damage. Speckled rattlesnake Joshua Tree National Park Flickr CC2.0 Speckled Rattlesnake The speckled rattlesnake grows to about 3 feet and can be found in California, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. Their habitat consists of rocky hillsides, canyons, and ledges which provide shelter. They feed primarily on mammals, but will also feed on birds and lizards. They have a tan, yellow, orange, cream, or bluish-gray background which often takes on the appearance of their rocky habitat. They have crossbands which may appear as blotches. Tiger rattlesnake Smashtonlee05 Flickr CC2.0 Tiger Rattlesnake Tiger rattlesnake bites are not normally fatal because of the minimal amount of venom inserted, but the toxicity of the venom is incredibly high. Tiger rattlesnakes are found in a tiny area near the Arizona-Mexico border, so their bites can be especially harmful to those who live nearby and accidentally come across one when hiking or camping. Timber rattlesnake Bonnie Ott Flickr CC2.0 Timber Rattlesnake In the US the most feared rattlesnake is the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus Horridus). It has a wide-ranging habitat, from New England right down to Texas, and inland as far as Minnesota. They are easily identified by their zig-zag cross bands over their brown-gray skin. Timber Rattlesnakes are difficult to rile, but pack a particularly nasty venom in their fangs. They will try to avoid contact with humans, but if threatened will strike. Timber Rattlesnakes are popular visual aids with the renowned snake preachers of the southern states. Ashley Wahlberg Flickr CC2.0 Flickr CC2.0 Twin-spotted Rattlesnake Usually growing up to about 2 feet, the twin-spotted rattlesnake can be identified by two rows of dorsal spots. They can be found in Arizona at high altitudes, and are reddish-brown, bluish-brown, or grayish-brown. Their habitats in Arizona consist of woodlands and forest, and prefer moist conditions. Western diamondback rattlesnake Peter Palnaus Flickr CC2.0 Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Western diamondback rattlesnakes cover an area in the southwest of the US and parts of Mexico. They can be recognized quite easily as they are usually a light tan color, with pale diamonds, which give way to black and white stripes near the rattle at the end of their tails. They have two diagonal, pale stripes on their cheek. Western Diamondbacks tend to be a little shorter than their eastern cousins, at growing to about 7 feet. The Western diamond rattlesnake is one of the most aggressive snakes on this list, often standing their ground. They fall foul to several predators including birds of prey including eagles and hawks, but also land mammals such as wild pigs and roadrunners. Western rattlesnake Robert Engberg Flickr CC2.0 Western Rattlesnake The western rattlesnake grows between 1 1/4 and 5 1/4 feet long. They have variable shape dark blotches on their neck, which become bands nearer the tail. They have a pale red, tan, brown, blackish, or yellow background. The western rattlesnake can be found in Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada, and in the U.S. in Utah, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon, Nebraska, Wyoming, Kansas, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. They an be found everywhere from prairies to evergreen forests, and can be found in bushes and trees. Their venom is powerful and they can use up to half their venom in a single bite. TWO BONUS VIPERS Copperhead Smashtonlee05 Flickr CC2.0 Copperheads can be found across most of the eastern states of the US. They can be identified by the hourglass-shaped markings on their body, which gives them great camouflage. Usually, copperheads measure about 2 to 3 feet in length. They give no warning of their intention to attack, instead of adopting a frozen pose and stay silent. This means they are less likely to be spotted, and the unwary walker can easily step near one and suffer a bite as a result. Fortunately, their poison is weaker than other vipers, so deaths tend to be fewer. Cottonmouth Virginia State Parks Flickr CC2.0 Cottonmouths are also known as water moccasins, and they can grow to four feet in length. Their body is thick and their head is a triangular shape. The white inside of its mouth gives it it's named. Cottonmouth's coloration can vary from black, thru brown to lighter browns or gray. They have a pattern of bands on their backs. Cottonmouths are found only in the southeastern corner of the US ranging from Texas to Virginia and inland across the Mississippi basin.