Description, features and habitat of a rattlesnake. Rattlesnake. Photo, video Rattlesnake poisonous or not

Serpentologists classify one of the most dangerous venomous snakes as pit vipers, or rattlesnakes (or rattlesnakes), a subfamily of venomous snakes from the viper family.

These snakes are called pitheads due to the presence of two heat-sensitive (infrared) pits located in the gap between the snake's eyes and nostrils. Hence the name of the subfamily.

They help snakes find prey because they have thermoreceptors that analyze temperature. environment.

They quickly catch the slightest change in temperature if a victim appears nearby.

It's like a second sight, which helps to quickly find and attack the victim.

These amazing receptors are able to respond to even the smallest changes in air temperature (0.1 degrees).

For a snake, rodents and birds have much more high temperature, and the snake recognizes it even in pitch darkness.

Similar to primitive eyes, these pits allow the snake to select its prey and attack it with great precision.

Since pitheads, like other members of the viper family, prefer to hunt at night from ambush, this quality helps them well.

A "rattlesnake" is called a rattle located at the tip of its tail. It is a mobile modified scales.

In the process of oscillation, they hit each other, making a characteristic thundering sound.

To date, 224 species of this subfamily have been described, of which 69 are found in South-East Asia and 106 in America.

This is the only viper subfamily that lives on the American continent.

2 species live in Russia.

Appearance

The head of the animal has a triangular shape, the pupils of the eyes are vertical.

Length adult can reach more than one and a half meters. Feature representatives of this species - the presence of two hollow long teeth, from which a deadly poison is released.

Like many other scaly reptiles, rattlesnakes molt periodically.

After each skin change, an additional new keratinized segment appears on the rattle. In young snakes, molting occurs quite often - up to six times a year. In adults - once every one and a half years.

Before the start of molting, the cornea of ​​the animal's eyes loses its transparency, becomes cloudy. At this time, the snake is not able to see. She spends most of her time in hiding until her sight returns.

The tongue helps the snake navigate in space, and the thermolocator helps to get food.

The reptile uses its teeth to grab and kill its prey. When a rattlesnake senses danger, it coils up into a tight spring, ready to unfold with great force at any moment.

At the same time, the tail part resembles a spiral ring, in the center of which there is a rattle-rattle that makes a frightening rustle. The front part takes the form of a high column.

Lifestyle

Representatives of the pitheads live from the humid jungle and high mountains to deserts, there are even water species.

Some snakes live on the ground, others live in trees, some climb to a height of more than a kilometer above sea level.

If you do not take into account some species that are active around the clock, the snakes of this subfamily prefer to lead night image life to avoid sun and heat burns and go hunting when most of their prey are active.

During the daytime, pitheads prefer to hide in rodent burrows or under rocks.

The heat-sensitive pits of these snakes also help them find cooler places to rest.

The main animals that rattlesnakes feed on are vertebrates, mainly mammals - small rodents, birds.

Moreover, according to research, rattlesnakes are constantly improving their hunting skills. That is, they develop, progress.

They can return to the same ambush site for years to hunt.

For the winter, snakes hibernate, and usually they all gather together to warm each other.

In cold weather and during pregnancy, snakes love to bask in the sun.

Like other types of snakes, rattlesnakes attack humans only when they are cornered or in real danger. How larger snake the easier it is to defend.

Rattlesnake populations are declining, driven by pollution and deforestation in the tropics. Also, a person also contributes to the decline in the number of snakes of this species, hunting them because of the skin.

Many snakes also die under the wheels of cars.

The life expectancy of a rattlesnake is usually 10-12 years.

However, some individuals can live much longer.

In the serpentarium, where the poison is collected, snakes live very little, and the reasons are unknown, but in the zoo, with proper care, life expectancy is the same as in the wild.

In essence, it is considered that less snake size, the more she lives, mostly the average size individuals ranges from eighty centimeters to a meter.

True, there are snakes that reach one and a half meters.

Rattlesnakes are non-confrontational. They do not attack the first person, usually they only defend themselves.

However, every year about a hundred people die from the bites of these animals. Individuals overheat and die already at +45 degrees.

The teeth of the rattlesnake are very sharp, they can easily pierce leather shoes.

reproduction

Rattlesnakes are generally ovoviviparous, meaning the live young rupture their egg shells within minutes of laying the egg.

All oviparous snakes carefully guard their eggs. One clutch can produce from 2 to 86 cubs, depending on the species.

Newborn snakes do not have a rattle; it grows as they grow older. In newly born cubs, the tip of the tail is crowned by one large, almost round shield.

Many young snakes have brightly colored tails that contrast sharply with the rest of the body. Using their tails, juveniles make special movements to attract unsuspecting prey.

Rattlesnake bite

The rattlesnake uses its teeth primarily to grab and hold its prey.

A sign of a poisonous snake is a pair of saber-shaped large teeth, larger than the rest.

Inside they have channels for the passage of poison, used to kill the victim in the hunt and protect themselves in case of danger.

For the most part, rattlesnake venom is extremely dangerous to humans.

A well-known fact is the shedding of the keratinized upper cover by the snake during molting. The same thing happens with poisonous teeth. But even at this time, the snake produces poison, spreading over the folds of the gums.

Therefore, a snake bite, even in the absence of poisonous teeth, is dangerous, since the poison can enter the human blood through the skin.

In some cases, after being bitten by a rattlesnake, people saw four wounds, and not two, as usual. Then they made erroneous conclusions about the emergence of a new four-toothed species of snake.

In fact, for about a couple of days, the snake bites both with old teeth that have not yet fallen out, and with new ones that have not yet fallen into place.

Usually, when bitten, a pair of large dots-wounds are clearly visible - traces of poisonous teeth and two rows of small dots left by non-poisonous teeth.

It is difficult to predict how a rattlesnake bite will affect a particular person, how the poison will work. Many factors influence this.

The main ones are the quality and quantity of the poison, the place of the bite (the closer it is to the head, the more dangerous), how deep the snake teeth penetrated the human skin, in what mental and physical condition the person was present at the time of the bite.

But in any case, a person needs to be provided with immediate and qualified medical assistance.

First aid should be provided meaningfully, since uncontrolled application of various objects to the bitten place - from red-hot iron objects and coals from a fire to cold earth does not help, but only aggravates the patient's condition.

It happened that a person who was bitten by a rattlesnake had his fingers cut off, or even the entire hand, only this cruel method did not justify itself at all.

It is often believed that poison is a poison for the body, and they try to disinfect it with an alcohol solution. But this can only have the opposite effect - the vessels dilate, the absorption of the poison accelerates.

by the most effective tool is a special serum produced on the basis of snake venom. Also, snake venom is used in small doses, with the addition of other elements, as a therapeutic drug.

For example, rattlesnake venom is successfully used to treat leprosy, and water muzzle is used to stop severe bleeding.

Poison

To receive regularly a large number of poison, special serpentarium nurseries are created, in which they contain thousands of snakes, regularly collecting poison from them.

Only now the snakes do not live there for long, only about six months, although in a zoo, with good maintenance, they can withstand about 10-12 years.

Rattlesnakes generally adapt quickly to captivity. Despite the fact that at first they may refuse to take food, they gradually become accustomed to the attendants, the snakes begin to take food from special tongs and can even let themselves be touched.

But snakes are insidious creatures, they can bite very unexpectedly, even if before that long time behave approximately.

Sometimes a rattlesnake can starve for a long time - up to nine months. Even if, for example, a live rat is launched towards it, the snake does not show any interest, and the potential victim is also not afraid of the snake, only being excited by the noise of the rattle.

Once there was even such a case: a rattlesnake was bitten by rats. When snakes are hungry, they bathe, drink water, shed their old skin, and only after all this are they ready to eat.

Although snakes are poisonous, they also sometimes become prey for many animals (ferrets, hedgehogs, martens, weasels) and birds (ravens, vultures, buzzards, spotted eagles, peacocks).

They are not affected by snake venom at all, or it is very weak for them.

The more the territory of America was populated, the smaller the population of snakes on it became, as pigs began to eat them, which are not afraid of snake bites because they get into the subcutaneous fat, where there are practically no blood vessels into which the poison can get. In the states of Florida and Georgia, people also eat rattlesnakes, claiming that the meat tastes like chicken.

South American Indians from ancient times noticed the toxic effect of snake venom on humans and animals and began to use it in war and hunting.

Bows and arrows have always been the main weapon of the Indians. The main part of the poison for arrows is curare (juice from the roots of chondrodendron and styrchnos), snake venom is added to it.

29Palms

Every rattlesnake is venomous, but few have the tail rattle that gave its name to this vast subfamily of over two hundred species.

Description

Rattlesnakes (in the broad sense of the term) include one of the subfamilies that are part of the viper family. Herpetologists classify them as Crotalinae, at the same time calling them rattlesnakes or pitheads (due to a pair of thermolocator pits planted between the nostrils and eyes).

Surukuku (they are also formidable bushmasters), temple keffis, zhararaks, millet rattlesnakes, urutu, American spearhead snakes - all this creeping variety belongs to the subfamily Crotalinae, consisting of 21 genera and 224 species.

One of the genera bears the proud name of Crotalus - real rattlesnakes. This genus includes 36 species, including miniature dwarf rattlesnakes, about half a meter long, as well as rhombic rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamanteus), growing up to 2 and a half meters. By the way, many herpetologists consider the latter to be the classic and most beautiful rattlesnakes.

Appearance of the snake

Hollow-headed snakes differ from each other both in size (from 0.5 m to 3.5 m) and in color, which, as a rule, is polychrome. The scales can be painted in almost all colors of the rainbow - white, black, steel, beige, emerald green, reddish-pink, brown, yellow and more. These reptiles are rarely monochromatic, not afraid to display intricate patterns and flashy colors.

The main background often looks like an interweaving of thick stripes, streaks or rhombuses. Sometimes, as in the case of Celebes keffiyeh, the predominant color (bright green) is only slightly diluted with thin blue-white stripes.

Rattlesnakes are related by a wedge-shaped head, two elongated fangs (through which the poison passes) and a tail ratchet made of ring-shaped cornifications.

Important! Not all reptiles are equipped with rattles - they are not, for example, in the muzzle, as well as in the Catalina rattlesnake living on about. Santa Catalina (Gulf of California).

The tail rattle is needed by the snake to scare off enemies, and its growth continues throughout life. The thickening at the end of the tail appears after the first molt. During the next molts, fragments of old skin cling to this growth, leading to the formation of a relief ratchet.

When moving, the rings are lost, but most of remains to serve as an instrument of intimidation/warning of the enemy. The vibration of the tail raised up, topped with a rattle, indicates that the reptile is nervous and you better get out of its way.

According to Nikolai Drozdov, the sound of the vibrating rings is similar to the crackling produced by a narrow-film film projector and can be heard at a distance of up to 30 meters.

Lifespan

If rattlesnakes lived the entire period assigned to them by nature, they would not leave this world before 30 years. At least, this is how long the pitheads live in captivity (in satiety and without natural enemies). In freedom, these reptiles do not always reach twenty, and the vast majority die much earlier.

Range, habitats

According to herpetologists, almost half of the rattlesnakes (106 species) live on the American continent and quite a lot (69 species) in Southeast Asia.

The only pitheads that have penetrated both hemispheres of the earth are called muzzles.. Indeed, in the territory North America they are much smaller - only three species. Two (eastern and common muzzle) were found on Far East our country, in Central Asia and Azerbaijan. Oriental is also found in China, Japan and Korea, whose inhabitants have learned to cook excellent dishes from snake meat.

The common muzzle can be seen in Afghanistan, Iran, Korea, Mongolia and China, and the hook-nosed one can be seen in Sri Lanka and India. The smooth muzzle lives on the Indochinese peninsula, on Sumatra and Java. Himalayan prefers mountains, conquering peaks up to 5 thousand meters.

A variety of keffis live in the Eastern Hemisphere, the most impressive of which is considered a resident of Japan - a one and a half meter habu. The mountain keffiyeh was registered in the Indochinese peninsula and the Himalayas, and the bamboo one - in India, Nepal and Pakistan.

In the Western Hemisphere, other pitheads, called bothrops, are also common. The most numerous rattlesnakes in Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay are considered zhararaki, and Mexico - rutu.

Rattlesnake lifestyle

The pitheads are such a diverse community that its members can be found anywhere from deserts to mountains. For example, the water muzzle "grazes" in swamps, wet meadows, banks of ponds and rivers, while Bothrops athrox prefers the tropical jungle.

Some rattlesnakes almost do not get off the trees, others feel great confidence on the ground, others have chosen the rocks.

On a hot afternoon, rattlesnakes rest under boulders, trunks of fallen trees, under decaying fallen leaves, in the bases of stumps and in holes left by rodents, gaining vigor closer to dusk. Nocturnal activity is typical for a hot season: in the cool seasons, snakes are nimble during the daytime.

Chilling in the cold season, as well as pregnant reptiles often take sunbaths.

It is interesting! Many rattlesnakes remain faithful to the once chosen hole for years, in which their numerous descendants continue to live. Nora seems to be inherited for tens and hundreds of years.

Huge snake colonies live in such a family lair. Next to the hole are the first outing, hunting, mating and even seasonal migrations. Some species of rattlesnakes overwinter in big companies, warming each other during hibernation, others - keep apart.

Ration, prey

Rattlesnakes, like typical ambush predators, take position and wait for prey to come within throwing distance. An S-shaped bend of the neck, in which the rattlesnake's head looks towards the enemy, serves as a signal of the upcoming attack. The length of the throw is equal to 1/3 of the length of the snake's body.

Like other vipers, pit vipers infect prey with venom rather than strangulation. Rattlesnakes feed mainly on small warm-blooded animals, but not only on them. The diet (depending on the range) contains:

• rodents, including mice, rats and rabbits;
• birds;
• fish;
• frogs;
• lizards;
• small snakes;
• insects, including cicadas and caterpillars.

Teenage snakes often use their brightly colored tail tip to lure frogs as well.

During the day, rattlesnakes find prey with the help of ordinary organs of vision, but an object frozen without movement may not be noticed. At night, temperature-responsive pits come to their aid, distinguishing fractions of degrees. Even in pitch darkness, the snake sees the thermal contour of the victim, created by infrared radiation.

Enemies of the rattlesnake

This is, first of all, a person who destroys reptiles in hunting excitement or because of unjustified fear. A lot of rattlesnakes are crushed on the roads. In general, the population of pit vipers, like other snakes, has significantly decreased on the planet.

Factors that reduce the number of rattlesnakes include night frosts, which are deadly for newly hatched juveniles.

Rattlesnake breeding

Most viviparous rattlesnakes mate after wintering (in April-May) or later, depending on the range. Often, summer sperm is stored in the body of the female until the next spring, and only in June does the reptile lay eggs. In the clutch there are from 2 to 86 (Bothrops atrox) pieces, but on average 9-12, and after three months the offspring are born.

As a rule, before laying eggs, females crawl away from their burrow for 0.5 km, but it happens that snakes hatch right in the family nest. After 2 years, the female, who has regained her strength, will be ready for the next mating.

At the age of 10 days, rattlesnakes shed their skin for the first time, during which a “button” is formed at the tip of the tail, which eventually turns into a ratchet. Around the beginning of October, snakes try to find their way to their native hole, but not everyone succeeds: some die from the cold and predators, others go astray.

Male pitheads reach sexual maturity at 2 years of age, females at 3 years of age.

Synonyms and names in other languages

Rattlesnake, noisy viper

Rattlesnake

Classification

Detachment- Scaly (Scuagmata).

Family- Vipers (Viperidae).

Subfamily- Hollowheads (Crotalinae).

Genus - Rattlesnakes (Crotalus).

View - Rattlesnake(Crotalus simus).

There are more than 120 species of rattlesnakes. They live in many countries of North and South America as well as in Asia. In Central Asia and the Far East, a species of snakes close to them lives - an ordinary muzzle.

The pit vipers, the subfamily to which the noisy vipers belong, are a very versatile group, living almost everywhere, from deserts, to mountains and wet jungles, to aquatic species.

During the day, they usually hide under rocks or in rodent burrows. The heat-sensitive pits of these snakes help them find cooler places to rest.

Appearance

The size rattlesnake is usually from 1.5 to 1.7 meters in length, and larger individuals are also found.

Like other members of the family, pitheads have a pair of relatively long, hollow, venomous teeth used to expel venom. Head triangular shape the pupils of the eyes are vertical

Mainly ground view are active more at night.

Character

dangerous poisonous snake, its bite is often fatal to humans.

In a moment of danger, the rattlesnake takes a pose of threat - with the help of powerful muscles, its body is folded into a tight spring, ready to unfold at any moment with terrible force, and the tail end is folded into a spiral ring, in the center of which a ratchet-rattle is raised vertically, making a distinct rustle . At the same time, the front part of the body looks like a high column.

Terrarium for a rattlesnake, you need a large, horizontal type, about 60 - 100 cm long and 60 cm high. A terrarium divided into two parts is recommended so that the snake can be isolated during cleaning. Requires ventilation holes in the top and lower parts terrarium. As a substrate, you can use pine bark or coconut chips. For climbing and as shelters, you need to install a few snags in the terrarium. It is good to put a stump under an incandescent lamp or a mirror lamp, the snake will be able to bask on it. In one of the corners of the terrarium, you can put wet sphagnum moss, the snake can burrow there if desired. A drinking bowl is necessary, the water in it should be changed daily. Artificial plants can be placed in the terrarium as shelters.

Temperatureair during the day 25 - 28°C, at night 2 - 3°C degrees lower. For heating, you can use a thermal cord or a thermal mat.

Humidityair should be kept high, around 70%. Be sure to spray the terrarium and the snake daily.

Lighting fluorescent lamps lasting 9 - 10 hours a day.

Feeding

In a terrarium, the main food of a rattlesnake is rodents - adult rats. Usually they are placed in a terrarium, giving the snakes the opportunity to hunt on their own.

Long-term starvation of rattlesnakes has been noted - in zoos it sometimes reaches nine months, and even rats launched to them in the form of live food do not arouse interest, however, just as their potential victims do not feel fear of snakes - the noise of rattles only arouses their curiosity. A case is known when rats bit a rattlesnake. During fasting, snakes drink water, bathe, shed their skin, and only then are they ready to eat.

Vitamin and mineral supplements should be added to the feed in courses.

Peculiarities

A distinctive feature of a rattlesnake is a ratchet at the end of the tail made of keratinized moving segments, which, with rapid tail oscillations from side to side - up to 70 per second - rub against each other and produce a peculiar, well-audible rustle, a bit like the chirping of a movie projector. Snakes are not born with a ratchet; it appears in a growing snake within a few molts.

Deadly poisonous.

Refusal of food can be caused by stress, an unsuitable prey item, a new prey item, an atypical prey item for the species, or the snake is simply not hungry. Do not immediately force-feed the snake, because they can live long enough without food without harm to health. You should start to worry if the snake has not eaten for several months. Then you need to analyze the conditions of detention and the diet of the snake before the problem starts. Artificially feeding a rattlesnake is not recommended.

regurgitation can occur due to stress, illness, too much prey, feeding during molting, temperature regime. After regurgitation, you should not feed the snake for 7 - 10 days, then you should feed the snake again, taking into account the error analysis.

Moult - it is not a disease, but a necessary stage in the growth of the snake. At the same time, the eyes of the snake become cloudy, the color brightens, and the skin begins to peel off. During this period, you should monitor the humidity in the terrarium and the presence of a reservoir.

Respiratory infections- they are usually caused by opportunistic bacteria in case of a decrease in the snake's immunity as a result of stress due to wrong conditions content. Symptoms are labored breathing, open mouth, nasal discharge. It is treated with an antibiotic - baytril, in injections.

Breeding

It reproduces quite easily. After the introduction of the male and female, frequent spraying of the terrarium is necessary in order to simulate the rainy season. After mating, the female lays up to 40 eggs, from which cubs hatch from 25 to 32 cm in size, weighing from 25 to 45 grams, after the yolk sac is resorbed, they begin to feed on newborn mice.

Lifespan about 15 years old.

The rattlesnake is one of the most dangerous reptiles, whose venom can quickly kill a person. There are many rumors about her.

In this article, we will take a closer look at what it is and where you should be on the alert to avoid an unwanted meeting with it.

What does it look like and why is it called that?

rattlesnake in broad sense The term refers to the entire subfamily of pit vipers. They are called pitheads because of the two heat-sensitive pits between the eyes and nostrils.

By the way, with a rattle on the tail, making a rather loud rustle, there are only 2 types of rattlesnakes: real and dwarf.

Did you know?Sometimes, in panic attacks, a pit viper begins to bite everything around, including itself, but its own poison is not dangerous for the reptile itself.

Peculiarities appearance rattlesnakes are:

• reptiles within the subfamily can differ both in the coloring of almost all the colors of the rainbow and patterns (rarely rattlesnakes are completely the same color), and in length, which varies from 0.5 m (ciliated viper) to 3.5 m (bushmaster);
• the pattern is mainly formed by intertwined thick stripes or rhombuses;
• the head of these representatives of reptiles is wedge-shaped with small eyes and two long hollow poisonous teeth;
• the pupils of rattlesnakes are vertical;
• thanks to heat-sensitive dimples on the muzzle, the snake in the dark recognizes the prey well due to the temperature difference between the prey and the environment. These receptors are able to detect a difference of 0.1 °C.
• at the end of the tail there are ring-shaped cornifications, which, as mentioned above, are not capable of producing a perceptible sound in everyone. The "rattle" in rattlesnakes is formed during molting. The skin peels off the body and, curling up into a ring, remains at the tip of the tail. So, segment by segment, the reptile's ratchet grows. Over time, the number of segments will develop in such a way that there will be enough rings in the rattle to make a characteristic sound. Gradually, some rings fall off, and others appear in their place. The cornifications are hollow inside and freely rub against each other, which gives rise to their characteristic sound. It is because of this feature that the subfamily of pit vipers was called rattlesnakes.

Is a bite dangerous: the effect of poison on a person

The bite of a rattlesnake is considered extremely dangerous to humans. It is difficult to predict how the poison will affect a particular person, since many factors affect the result, ranging from the site of the bite (the closer to the brain, the more dangerous) and ending with the psychophysical state of the victim.

The entry of toxins into the blood can lead to anaphylactic shock, kidney failure, difficulty breathing, internal bleeding, and death. Only in the USA, from 10 to 15 people die on average per year (you should take into account the prevalence of the antidote in those states where rattlesnakes live).

Among the common first aid mistakes is trying to decontaminate a wound with alcohol, which actually backfires. Alcohol dilates the blood vessels, and the poison is absorbed faster. Amputation of the bitten limb may also fail.

Important!The only real treatment is the administration of snake venom serum.

When bitten, do the following:

1. First of all, you should remove the affected person away from the site of the attack in order to prevent subsequent bites.
2. Call an ambulance or go to the medical center yourself, where they can help.
3. The victim of a bite should move as little as possible, as this raises body temperature, which will only aggravate the situation.
4. Remove any jewelry or clothing that may constrict the limbs.
5. Wash the wound with water.
6. The bite area is best kept below the level of the heart.
7. If available, inject anti-snake serum yourself.

The rattlesnake itself is cowardly and does not attack if there is an opportunity to escape.

Where does the rattlesnake live

Pitheads live in a very various conditions. There are species that live in desert or mountainous areas, in the jungle, there are even several aquatic representatives.

Rattlesnakes are most widespread in Southeast Asia (69 species) and in North and South America (106 species). Cottonmouths can be found in both hemispheres of the Earth, including the Far East and Central Asia.

The eastern muzzle lives in Japan, China and Korea, and the Himalayan is found at altitudes up to 5000 m above sea level. The habitat of rattlesnakes also includes Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Indochina, Java and Sumatra.

Rattlesnakes are active at night, also to avoid heat burn. Often they hide in the holes of small rodents, under fallen trees or under stones.
Before the onset of cold weather, reptiles come out of their shelters to bask in the sun. Pregnant snakes do this especially often. Most wintering species prefer to gather in the same place with their own kind in order to simplify heating during hibernation.

Did you know?Rattlesnake can die at ambient temperatures above +45 ° C.

What does it eat

Rattlesnakes are predators by nature. They feed mainly on small rodents, although birds, frogs, lizards, small snakes, rabbits, grasshoppers, cicadas and even fish are also present in their diet.

Pitheads infect prey with poison, acting from an ambush. At the moment before the attack, the neck of the reptile bends in the form latin letter"S", and the muzzle is directed towards the victim. The length of the throw, as a rule, is about a third of the length of the body.

She feeds on average once a week, consuming prey, half own weight.

Who prey on the snakes themselves

The natural enemies of rattlesnakes are hawks, vultures, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, ferrets, some large species snakes (for example, Mussurans), hedgehogs, weasels, martens. This is due to the fact that the poison of the pitheads does not act at all or has little effect on these animals.

Also, animals that eat rattlesnakes include pigs, through whose subcutaneous fat poisonous teeth make their way very hard. Even California running cuckoos can become a threat to the population.

And the most dangerous enemy for the described reptiles, of course, is the man himself, who hunts them because of the skin. And in some states of the United States and in the countries of Southeast Asia, snake meat is considered a delicacy and is in demand.

reproduction

In April-May (that is, after wintering), these snakes mate. Often the seed is stored in the female until the next season. Most pitheads are viviparous, but there are many species that lay eggs.

In a litter, depending on the species, there can be from 2 to 86 cubs. In ten-day-old snakes, for the first time, the skin is shed in such a way that a "button" is formed in the tail.
The female will be ready for the next mating in 2 years.

Rattlesnakes - dangerous representatives of their family, capable of killing a person when attacked. However, they rarely attack people and only when they feel threatened themselves, preferring to run away in most cases.

Subject to simple rules safety in the area where rattlesnakes live, you can avoid meeting these unusual predators.

Rattlesnake, as a rule, can be found in the North. Most often, she settles in holes, can live among stones. This type of snake belongs to the viper family and the subfamily of the pit vipers.

If you look closely, it will become clear why such a species as rattlesnake, photo they will tell you for themselves - between the nostrils and the eyes you will see several dimples.

They help snakes find their prey, because there are thermoreceptors that analyze the temperature of the environment. They quickly catch the slightest change in temperature if a victim appears nearby.

It's like a second sight, which helps to quickly find and attack the victim. Rattlesnake poisonous. She has several oblong teeth, from which poison is released when bitten.

Why is a rattlesnake? This name comes from several species that have a "rattle" on their tail. It consists of moving scales that make sounds when the tail sways.

Rattlesnake Habitat

These easily and quickly adapt to any terrain. There are species that live in the jungle, others in the desert, some even in the water or in the trees. Rattlesnakes don't like straight lines sun rays Therefore, they try to lead a nocturnal lifestyle.

During the day, they most often hide in burrows or under stones, but at night they have a hunting period. The victims, as a rule, are small rodents,. Moreover, according to research, rattlesnakes constantly improve their hunting skills.

That is, they develop, progress. They can return to the same ambush site for years to hunt. For the winter, snakes hibernate, and usually they all gather together to warm each other.

Rattlesnake bite danger

Who didn't watch film "Rattlesnakes"! That's where it started panic fear in front of the rattlers. Rattlesnake Invasion really scared people. After all rattlesnake bite poisonous, and the serum may not be at hand. If we talk about the danger of a bite for a person, then it depends on many factors.

Certainly, qualified medical assistance and serum, which is produced on the basis of poison, are needed. It is believed that the closer the bite to the head, the more life-threatening. The bite site should not be treated with alcohol, as it will only speed up the action of the poison. In general, it is better not to apply anything to the wound, you need to wait for help. Everything will depend on the site of the bite, on the amount of poison, on the speed of rendering medical care.

However, it should be said that in small doses I use snake venom as a medicine. For example, in diseases such as leprosy, when you need to stop severe bleeding. Despite the fact that snakes are poisonous, they still often become victims of other animals.

Many animals and birds are not affected by the poison, such as pigs, ferrets, vultures, crows. Yes, and a person with his activity reduces the population of rattlesnakes, because in many countries they are even eaten, and bags, wallets, shoes are made from leather.

Lifespan and reproduction of the rattlesnake

The life expectancy of a rattlesnake is usually 10-12 years. However, some individuals can live much longer. In the serpentarium, where the poison is collected, snakes live very little, and the reasons are unknown, but in the zoo, with proper care, life expectancy is the same as in the wild.

In essence, it is believed that the smaller the snake, the longer it lives, basically the average size of individuals ranges from eighty centimeters to a meter. True, there are snakes that reach one and a half meters.

Rattlesnakes are viviparous, offspring hatch from eggs almost immediately after their mother laid them. Moreover, an interesting fact is that kites are already born with a bright rattle on their tail. They attract victims with it, however, at first it is not so big yet.

With each molt, the size of the rattle will increase, however, it will not be possible to determine the age of the individual from the scales, since they are lost, and the number of molts in snakes is different.

Interesting Rattlesnake Facts

These snakes are non-conflict. They do not attack the first person, usually they only defend themselves. However, every year about a hundred people die from the bites of these animals. Individuals overheat and die already at +45 degrees. The teeth of the rattlesnake are very sharp, they can easily pierce leather shoes.

Scientists have noticed that when she dies, she begins to behave very strangely. She rushes at everyone, tries to bite everything that comes in her way, even her own body. It is assumed that the snake is trying to commit suicide, but this has not been proven, perhaps she is trying to cure herself with her own poison.

Rattlesnakes are amazing. They are a pleasure to watch. Now a lot of various films and series of programs about these amazing animals have been shot. In order to watch an interesting, informative movie, just type in the search bar key phrase: « Rattlesnake video».

Among the proposed options, everyone can find an informative film about rattlesnakes for themselves. In our country, you can find these snakes only in zoos, which undoubtedly pleases. It is good that these insidious predators are not found in our area, and you can admire them in the zoo, or watching a movie on TV.