Top 25 Interesting And Unknown Rattlesnake Facts
Rattlesnake facts consist of a lot more interesting information aside from just how intimidating they are. In fact, they are one of the most well-known and feared snakes on the planet. Although there are 30 types of rattlesnakes found in the world, there are only four varieties in the United States to worry about being the copperhead, the coral snake, the rattlesnake and the cottonmouth water moccasin. Below are 25 more rattlesnake facts that you might enjoy.
- Rattlesnakes receive their name by the rattle that is found at the very end of their tails that is used when threatened as a warning device.
- Copperheads, cottonmouths and rattlesnakes are all Pit Vipers which means they are equipped with pits underneath their nostrils that they use to detect heat. These pits are so incredibly sensitive that they are able to not only detect their prey in complete darkness but they can also determine the size of the prey as well.
- Some species of rattlesnakes have no identifying pattern.
- One of the most well-known rattlesnake facts is that they have a tongue that is forked that they are often seen flicking up and down. What you may not know is that their tongue serves a purpose as a directional aide.
- Rattlesnakes rely on vibrations because they do not have external ears.
- In the United States, nearly 8,000 people every year receive a venomous snake bit with only a small amount resulting in death.
- Unlike other snakes that lay eggs, rattlesnakes actually give live birth. The female actually has eggs but she carries them in her body where they hatch inside of her.
- The mating process with rattlesnakes typically lasts for several hours.
- Baby rattlesnakes receive no parental care.
- Newborn snakes do not have a rattle until after their first molting when they gain a bead at the end of their tail. With every molting, they continue to gain additional beads.
- Typically, a rattlesnake will not strike a human unless it feels cornered or threatened.
- One of the scariest rattlesnake facts is that a coiled snake is able to strike faster than a human eye is able to follow and at two-thirds its total body length.
- Rattlesnakes are able to regulate how much venom they inject when they bite. They will usually deliver less when they bite out of fear and more for their prey with the exception of the young snakes that have not figured out how to control this. Young rattlesnake are often more dangerous than adults for this reason.
- About 72 percent of individuals that are bitten by a rattlesnake are male.
- Rattles on the tails wear off or sometimes break so rattlesnakes are rarely found with more than 10 beads.
- In captivity, a rattlesnake can live to be 30 years old.
- Rattlesnakes are carnivorous and swallow their food whole, feeding on primarily ground squirrels, rats, mice and small rabbits.
- A rattlesnake will subdue its prey with its venomous bite which stuns, paralyzes or kills it. Its venom is able to kill within 20 seconds and it will chase its prey if it tries to escape.
- Rattlesnakes typically mature at a length of three to five feet.
- These snakes have excellent eyesight and can see something move from 40 feet away. Also, their eyes are not round but rather elliptical which allows them to see extremely well in dim light.
- The Mojave rattlesnake is the most dangerous species in the United States.
- One of the more disturbing rattlesnake facts is that most have hemotoxic venom which degenerates organs, destroys tissue and disrupts blood clotting so there is always some amount of permanent scarring from a bite.
- As long as an anti-venom is applied in time, the death rate from a bite drops to under four percent.
- If a rattle happens to absorb an abundance of water, it cannot make any noise.
- Rattlesnakes rarely travel more than one mile away from their den.
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