Facts about Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
- 09
Crotalus atrox, the scientific name of the western diamondback rattlesnake, places it within the pit viper family Viperidae, subfamily Crotalinae.
- 08
Among North American venomous snakes, only the eastern diamondback rattlesnake exceeds the western diamondback in length, with some individuals reaching up to seven feet from head to tail.
- 07
Southwestern deserts provide ideal habitat for the western diamondback rattlesnake, which can survive in temperatures exceeding 104 degrees Fahrenheit by remaining active primarily during cooler dawn and dusk hours.
- 06
The western diamondback rattlesnake can reach lengths of up to 7 feet, making it the second-longest venomous snake species in North America after the eastern diamondback.
- 05
Heat-sensing pits located along the western diamondback rattlesnake's jaw allow it to detect warm-blooded prey in complete darkness with remarkable precision.
- 04
Across the southwestern United States and Mexico, the western diamondback rattlesnake can travel up to 1.6 miles in a single season while hunting for prey.
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Females of the western diamondback rattlesnake typically bear between four and twenty-five live young every two to three years.
- 02
Rattles on the western diamondback rattlesnake add one new segment each time the snake sheds its skin, occurring three to five times annually.
- 01
Venom from the western diamondback rattlesnake contains hemotoxins that can destroy red blood cells and tissue, with a single bite delivering 100 to 800 milligrams of venom.