Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes
North America's deadliest venomous Snake
The western diamondback rattlesnake accounts for the most fatalities in North America. This article sill describe its characteristics an habitat.
The western diamondback rattlesnake, crotalus atrox, is found in the southwestern parts of North America. It’s habitat ranges from the Central regions of Texas, west into New Mexico, Arizona, southern California and northern Mexico. Although a dangerous snake and one that instills fear in people, it isn’t an endangered species, despite the numerous forms of species control that are employed.
Physical description
All rattlesnakes to some extent possess similar characteristics to their cousins the pit vipers. The western diamondback possesses a wide,stout body, a short tail and a triangular head. These snakes possess a pit between their nostrils and their eyes that’s a heat-sensing organ to detect warm-blooded prey. Hollow fangs for envenomation are possessed. Muscles above the teeth control the amount of venom released. They are on average one and a half meters long and can weigh between six to seven kilograms. They can have several different colors, but are usually a yellowish gray with a black diamond pattern and pale white borders extending down the back. Their rattle at the tip of their tail is black.
Mating
In the spring males will seek out females for reproduction. The male crawls atop the female and copulation usually takes a few hours. When mating has occurred, the gestation period lasts approxiamtely one hundred sixty-seven days on average. The females are ovoviviparous, which means they carry their eggs during the gestation period and prior to birth, the young penetrate the leathery egg sac and are born alive. They stay with their mother for no longer than a day and set out to hunt for food. Many do not survive due to the lack of food and predators.
Behavior
Western Diamondbacks are an aggressive variety of rattlesnake. They are easily angered and although not apt to attack offensively, tend to be very defensive in nature. When angered they rattle their tail and maintain the classic rattlesnake S shaped defense by lifting their anterior half of their body, ready to strike.
In the winter the species will generally hibernate in dens that it previously had occupied the previous winter. Abandoned gopher tunnels or burrows are other options. The number of snakes hibernating together greatly increases, as the weather gets colder. Areas with warmer winters tend to have fewer snakes hibernating together.
Prey
Western diamondbacks tend to eat small birds, rodents, amphibians, reptiles and even fish. After they deliver the fatal bite to its prey, the poison starts its predigestive action. It isn’t uncommon for these snakes to loose their teeth in their prey. On average they replace their teeth three to four times a year. These snakes eat every two to three weeks and drink water that nears their body weight annually. In very dry seasons or areas the snakes can get their water intake from their prey.
Venom
The venom is primarily hemotoxic, mainly affecting blood vessels, blood cells and the heart. The venom, being a digestive aid for the snake, tends to liquify and breakdown the complex protein structures of the animal. Excessive bleeding, tissue necrosis, swelling, edema and intense pain are characteristic of not only this snake’s venom, but of most rattlesnake venom.
Being an aggressive snake, the western diamondback is especially dangerous. It is the snake associated with the highest fatality rates in North America. Although dangerous, they aid humans greatly by keeping vermin populations under control. Leaving this snake alone when encountered will prevent many from getting bitten and allow the snake to use its venom in more constructive ways.
References
Klauber, Laurence M., 1982. Rattlesnakes. University of California Press, Berkeley, California
