REPTILIAN TUESDAY #17

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 17

Reptilian Tuesday brings us a reptile that deserves respect and a lot of distance. Yes, we’ve found a very venomous snake that is beautiful as it is scary. So let’s meet…

MEET THE WESTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE!

Range/Habitat: Southwestern United States-North Mexico/desert-scrub-forest

Diet: Carnivore: small mammals, birds, lizards

Length: 3-6ft

Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

• Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes are heavy, stocky snakes with a diamond pattern on their backs.
• They have very dangerous venom and are dangerous to humans.
• Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes have a segmented rattle on the end of their tails that they rattle to warn predators.
• The rattles get longer after the snake sheds its skin. They can get up to 10 segments long.
• Western diamondback rattlesnakes have no rattles when they are born.
• They are ambush predators.
• Western diamondback rattlesnakes are pit vipers; they have heat sensing pits between their eyes.

Western diamondback rattlesnakes are definitely a snake you should stay away from. They are an important part of the ecosystem though and are to be respected! Every animal has their place on our planet, cute or not!