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Crotalus adamanteus is a highly venomous rattlesnake species found in the Southeastern United States. Commonly called the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake, this is the heaviest venomous snake found in the New World, and possibly the heaviest venomous snake on the planet. The gaboon viper in Africa also competes for this title.
Description
C. adamanteus is the largest North American snake and can grow up to 8 feet in length, but average size is three to six feet. The body is generally a shade of dark or light brown. Its pattern is a distinctive row of large, dark diamond shapes edged in yellow trim, running down the length of its body. The diamonds fade to dark rings around the tail, where the distinctive rattle begins. A dark stripe edged in yellow runs back from the mouth to the eyes on each side of the head. There is no significant difference in appearance, between males and females except that males are generally larger.
Though large and bulky in appearance, the snake can strike up to two-thirds of its body length. That's about a three to four foot striking range for larger specimens. It strikes with two large, hollow fangs which inject venom into its prey eventually killing it (venom is lethal to small animals within minutes). The fangs are retractable and replaceable as venomous snakes lose and replace fangs often. Movement is in a rectilinear fashion (unlike sidewinders).
Range & habitat
C. adamanteus ranges from the Carolinas down to Florida and as far west as the Sabine River. The species can also be found on surrounding islands or keys as the snake is known to swim through wetlands and salt water; specimens have even been found miles from shore. They seem to particularly enjoy hiding in cornfields. They're also often found in dry, wooded or "scrub" areas but not uncommonly found in sandier coastal regions. They hide or rest in abandoned holes/burrows, fallen trees and tree trunks.
Behavior and Reproduction
Eastern diamondbacks can live beyond twenty years, but life expectancy is typically shorter because of hunting and human expansion. Solitary outside of mating season they are one of the more aggressive species found in North America because they rarely back away from confrontation. When threatened they usually coil and shake their rattle to warn aggressors- they stumbled upon something dangerous. There is suspicion that some rattlesnakes (and the diamondback in particular) which generally live around populated areas do not rattle as often because it leads to the snake’s discovery and consequent destruction. However, there is little available evidence of this hypothesis.
The snake is a poor climber and primarily hunts small mammals, but will also feed on birds, small reptiles and amphibians. They hunt (or ambush prey) at night or early morning using a type of infrared sense prominently found in pit vipers. Although there are no natural predators, hawks, eagles, and other snakes can prey on young or adolescent diamondbacks.
Rattlesnakes, including C. adamanteus, are viviparous. Gestation period lasts six or seven months and broods average about a dozen young. However, the young only stay with the mother for a few hours before they set off on their own to hunt and find recluse, thus mortality rate is very high.
Venom
Although the venom of the diamondback isn't particularly toxic, the size of the snake allows a larger capacity of venom which is released from its two prominent fangs. It's not uncommon that only one bite mark from one fang is visible after a strike. Fangs can break or bend, or the bite area may be small, causing a miss. All pit vipers have the ability to control the flow of venom through their fangs, allowing the diamondback to release most of its venom in a single strike (though often a pit viper will not release any of its venom). The venom capacity combined with the aggressiveness of the snake make it dangerous and lethal, and responsible for several recorded deaths.
The toxin released is a hemotoxin like all other American pit vipers. Unlike neurotoxins, hemotoxin poisoning becomes quickly apparent; the area around the wound swells at a rapid rate. Discoloration and pain are also experienced shortly after being bitten. Professional medical attention should be sought immediately, especially when the snake is young or the victim is a child. Younger snakes generally create more potent venom and the smaller the victim the less time it takes for the poison to spread.
See also
External links
- Forida Museum of Natural History - Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes
- EMBL Reptile Database - Family Viperidae
- CDC - Venomous Snake Bite
- Georgia Wildlife Fereration - Facing an Uncertain Future: The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
Snakes | Vipers | Pit vipers | rattlesnakes
"Crotalus adamanteus"