Ectotherms cannot regulate their body temperatures like warm-blooded animals. To keep from freezing, rattlesnakes congregate in dens and form swarming balls with their bodies.
Rattlesnakes eat mostly rodents, but may also eat insects and other reptiles. Rattlesnakes are pit vipers, so they have heat-sensing organs located in pits near the eyes. Even in complete darkness, the snake will be able to accurately strike at prey because its meal is warmer than the surrounding environment. Rattlesnakes lie in wait for a small mammal to venture nearby, then strike the unsuspecting animal with its venomous fangs. This hunting technique is called ambush predation.
A meal lasts a rattlesnake much longer than a human—an adult rattlesnake only needs to eat once every two weeks. When rattlesnakes sense a threat, different species have developed various ways to protect themselves. Some have evolved camouflage coloration to blend in with their surroundings and others are good at silent escape. When a rattlesnake chooses to stand its ground, it takes a defensive pose and shakes its rattle to ward off predators.
If startled, the snake may go straight to the attack, but they can only strike from a coiled position. While the strength of the venom varies between rattlers, he chooses how much to inject. This allows him to kill animals significantly larger than he is -- his venom finishes them off. Tom Ryan is a freelance writer, editor and English tutor.
He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English writing, and has also worked as an arts and entertainment reporter with "The Pitt News" and a public relations and advertising copywriter with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
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Defensive Predation With his rattling tail, unpredictable movements and large fangs, the rattlesnake is an imposing creature no matter your size -- for this reason, large animals capable of killing him are inclined to do so as a self-defense measure. The word alone fills most people with fear and anxiety, because they have no experience in dealing with snakes. Yet we should learn to appreciate the rattlesnake as one of the most efficient and specialized predators on Earth.
Many rattlesnakes struggle to survive as humans move in on their habitat. And some people feel that the only good rattlesnake is a dead one! Read on to discover cool stuff about rattlesnakes and why we need them. Rattlesnakes are known for their relatively heavy bodies and diamond-shaped heads.
They are considered to be the newest or most recently evolved snakes in the world. Rattlesnakes have either a rattle or a partial rattle made of interlocking rings, or segments of keratin, the same material our fingernails are made of. When vibrated, the rattle creates a hissing sound that warns off potential predators. It is an extremely effective and highly evolved predator-avoidance system.
Another rattlesnake characteristic is the "pit" on each side of the head, which is a heat-sensitive organ for locating prey. If sensing danger, they first try to escape or hide, so be sure to stay out of their way. Different rattlesnake species react in different ways: some remain still, relying on their cryptic coloration for camouflage, while others just glide away silently.
The rattle protects intruders from being bitten, while at the same time protects the snake from being stepped on! Most snakes give a warning before they bite, although they may strike quickly if they are startled during shedding, mating, or giving birth.
When out walking in heavy brush or rocky areas, watch where you step or put your hands! Amazingly, rattlesnakes are no match for nonvenomous kingsnakes, which are highly resistant to rattlesnake venom; rattlers are a common food item for kingsnakes.
Although California has a number of rattlesnake species, only four of them are found in San Diego County. While rattlesnakes locally may be found from the coast to the desert, each species varies in color and behavior, depending on their habitat.
The reason for this variation lies in evolution: these four species have evolved to fill different niches in different habitats, which limits competition for food. Colorado desert sidewinder: Found only in the desert, this is our smallest species. It grows to just over 2 feet 0. This rattler occurs the farthest south, from southeastern California, southeastern Arizona, and down the east coast of northern Baja California, Mexico.
It has horns just above the eyes that aid in keeping the eyes from being scratched while burrowing. The sidewinder gets its name from the way it moves: loops of the body are thrown forward and pressed into the sand so that the snake glides sideways, with only two parts of the body touching the ground at any given time—a special adaptation for living on hot sand or gravel.
It is named for its brick red color, but some desert individuals may be pinkish. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. Visit Teachers - Bring Your Class! Become a Member!
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