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This small species rarely exceeds 32 in (81.3 cm) in length. It has a large, rounded head, and fairly heavy body for its size, with eyes with vertical pupils. Like other rattlesnakes, its tail has a rattle, which is composed of keratin. Each time the snake sheds its skin, a new segment is added to the rattle.
The 36 known species of rattlesnakes have between 65 and 70 subspecies, [3] all native to the Americas, ranging from central Argentina to southern Canada. The largest rattlesnake, the eastern diamondback, can measure up to 2.4 m (7.9 ft) in length. [4] Rattlesnakes are preyed upon by hawks, weasels, kingsnakes, and a variety of other species.
The warmer a rattlesnake, the faster it vibrates its tail. [6] Rattlesnakes tail-vibrate faster than other snakes, with some individuals nearing or exceeding 90 rattles per second. [7] [8] This makes rattlesnake tail vibration one of the fastest sustained vertebrate movements—faster than the wingbeat of a hummingbird. The movement is possible ...
The generic name Crotalus is derived from the Greek word κρόταλον krótalοn, which means "rattle" or "castanet", and refers to the rattle on the end of the tail, which makes this group (genera Crotalus and Sistrurus) so distinctive. [3] As of July 2023, 44 [4] to 53 [5] species are recognized as valid.
Western pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius streckeri), Wayne County, Missouri (13 April 2018)S. miliarius is a small species but bulky when it comes to width, [5] with adults usually growing to 40–60 cm (16–24 in) in total length (including tail).
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Western Twin Spotted Rattlesnake (Crotalus pricei pricei), photographed in the Sierra Madre Occidental, Chihuahua, Mexico (July 2007) Adults of C. pricei usually do not exceed 50–60 cm (about 20–24 in) in total length (including tail). The maximum total length recorded is 66 cm (26 in). [3]
The western diamondback rattlesnake [3] or Texas diamond-back [4] (Crotalus atrox) is a rattlesnake species and member of the viper family, found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like all other rattlesnakes and all other vipers, it is venomous .