EASTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE

Crotalus adamanteus
By Shaun Lefebvre
TAXONOMY

Class: Reptilia
Order: Lepidosauria
Suborder: Squamata
Family: Viperidae
Genus and species: Crotalus adamanteus

The eastern diamondback is the largest and most dangerous of Florida's native species of snakes. It also ranks high on the list of poisonous snakes of the world. It's large body size, amount of venom, aggressive defensive tactics and an extremely quick striking speed make this a snake to be treated with caution.

APPEARANCE:

Average length of a rattler is 4-6 feet, but it may attain a body length of over 8 feet. Although it is rare to find a rattler over 7 feet. The diamondback is recognized by a distinctive pattern of yellow-bordered diamond- shaped body markings. Brittle, button-shaped segments form the rattle at the end of the tail. The arrow-shaped head is much wider than the neck.

HABITAT:
It is found throughout Florida. It may be encountered in almost any habitat, but most commonly frequents palmetto flatlands, pine woods, abandoned fields, and brushy and grassy areas.

BEHAVIOR:
When disturbed the rattler assumes a defensive position with body coiled upon itself, rattle free and elevated to sound a warning whirr, and head and neck rased in an s-position. From this stance, when the target is close, the rattler can repeatedly deliver it's stabbing strike and return to it's original position so fast that the movements appear as a blur to the human eye. The effective striking distance is from 1/3 to more than 1/2 the length of the snakes body. The fangs are bent inward and lie folded inside the roof of the mouth when it is closed. Fangs inject poison by pressure that is exerted on the poison sacs. The rattler does not have to be coiled to strike, it can strike from any position at any direction.

Some people wrongly believe that the snake always gives off the familiar rattle warning before the animal will strike, this is not true. Snakes that are quick to use thier rattles are easier to be spotted and killed, while the ones that stay silent go undetected. Hence it is thier genes that get passed on to the next generation creating Diamondbacks that don't give off the rattling whirr, which in turn makes them more dangerous. Eventually, rattle snakes won't rattle.


GROWTH:
The diamondback may shed it's skin from 3 to 5 times a year, depending on how much it eats, which in turn governs it's rate of growth. A segment is added to the rattle at each shedding. Some rattle sections may be broken off as the snake travels. Because of the irregular rate of adding new rattle segments, it can be said that the number of segments in a rattle in no way determines the age of the snake.

PREY:
They feed on small mammals such as rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice, shrews, and occassionally birds. After they inject the poison into their prey, they use their forked tongue to smell out their weakened victim.


REPRODUCTION:
It gives birth to about 9 to 15 baby rattlers at a time. Newly born rattlers are equipped with venom and the hypodermic needle fangs to inject it.

SPECIES VALUE:
This species is commercially valued for it's hide, meat, venom, and for exhibition purposes. It renders economic service to farmers by eating crop destroying rodents.

Bibliography
Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 98

Florida Venomous Snakes
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/fl- guide/adamant6.gif

The Zoological Society of Philadelphia 96
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

Picture references
Kenneth Wray photo of Eastern Diamondback