Animal facts-Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

  I will be discussing the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake.

 

The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is a reptile and a carnivore. It only lives along the southeast coast of the United States. It can live up to 20 years in the wild. It can get up to 5 ft. long and can weigh up to 5 lbs. Baby rattlers can actually be more dangerous than adults because they have less control over the amount of venom they inject. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes are capable of accurately striking at up to one-third their body length. Although feared as aggressive, attacks on human beings are rare. The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in North America. These stout-bodied pit vipers generally live in the dry, pine flatwoods, sandy woodlands, and coastal scrub habitats. Diamondback venom is a potent hemotoxin that kills red blood cells and causes tissue damage. Bites are extremely painful and can be fatal to humans. However, antivenin is widely available throughout the snake's range, and bites rarely result in death. When cornered, rattlers feverishly shake their iconic tails as a last warning to back off. The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake eats pretty much anything that it can kill.

The picture is found in the National Geographic website.