- Western Diamondback Rattlesnake: These snakes (Crotalus atrox) are found in the arid Southwestern deserts. They habitat dry, shrub covered terrain where they can conceal themselves.
- Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake: These snakes (Crotalus adamanteus) are found primarily in North Carolina, Louisiana and Florida. These rattlesnakes prefer high humidity and have been seen swimming in the salt water in the Florida keys.
The color of the Diamondback rattlesnakes ranges from a yellowish grey, pale blue or a pinkish ground color. Diamond shapes with pale white borders are present along the length of the snake’s body. The tail of the snake is white with jet black rings. The markings on the head include a pale oblique band starting from a pale oblique band from nostril right up to upper labials. A similar but a narrower band is present behind the eye.
The Diamondback rattlesnakes are about 1.5 meters in length and can weigh up to 7 kilograms. The body of the snake is rather plump with a broad triangular head and a short tail. These snakes also have a pit organ which is located in an indentation of the upper jaw in between the nostril and the eye. The pit is approximately 5 millimeters deep and has an outer and inner chamber that is separated by a thin membrane. This membrane can sense even very slight temperature differences between the snake’s inner and surrounding temperatures.
A rattle is present at the end of the tail. Each link on the rattle is the remains of a molted skin. As the snake molts, the last scale becomes loose but does not fall off. As the snake becomes older, the new rattles are formed with each molt and the old rattle simultaneously falls off. The fangs are long and tubular.
Diamondback Rattlesnakes – Diet
The Diamondback Rattlesnakes prey on small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and small fish. The snake uses the venom to kill the prey before eating it. The snakes swallow their prey as a whole and then digest the food as it passes through the body. These snakes eat once every 2 to 3 weeks. The annual intake of water in these snakes is equal to the weight of the body. Some water is assimilated from the prey and some is absorbed during shedding due to desiccation and evaporation.
Diamondback Rattlesnakes - Venom
The venom of the Diamondback rattlesnake is cytotoxic in nature and is also referred to as hemotoxic venom. The venom attacks the blood and prevents coagulation and at the same time it also destroys the blood vessels of the victim.
The snake fangs have a hollow cavity running along the majority of its length just like a hypodermic needle. Venom enters the fangs of the snake from the venom gland via the venom duct and travels down the hollow canal from where it is pumped into the prey with the help of incredibly sharp pointed tips of the fangs.
Diamondback Rattlesnakes - Reproduction
The Diamondback rattlesnakes reach a sexual maturity at age 3 and mating occurs during the spring right after the snakes emerge from hibernation. The female snakes are very passive during the courtship. The copulation can last for several hours which also consist of several resting periods. These snakes are ovoviviparous that is the eggs remain inside the snakes body right until the hatch or are ready to hatch. The gestation period lasts for six to seven moths and the snake gives birth to about an average of dozen young ones.
The young snakes are often born between July and early October and the neonates are about 30-36 centimeters in length. They are very similar to the adult snakes in appearance except for the fact that the neonates have only a small button at the tip of their rattle instead of a rattle.
The young snakes stay with the mothers for a few days and sometimes only for a few hours before setting off on their own to hunt and find their own recluse. Hence the mortality rate is very high.
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