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Scientific Name: Crotalus durissus culminatus |
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Geographical Range: Southwestern Mexico from
Michoacan to the isthmus of Tehuantepec to Argentina. |
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Habitat: Dry open Savannah. |
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Diet in the Wild: Small warm-blooded animals,
Rodents and Lizards. |
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Conservation Status: Protected. |
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Location in the Zoo: Herpetarium. |
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Physical Description:
This snake is light gray with diamond patterns down its back. It
is heavily bodied all over. It weighs about 8 pounds and is 4 ft long.
This snake is called a rattlesnake because of the rattle that represents
its tail. At birth snakes have a pre-button and every time a snake sheds
its skin a new rattle is formed. After two or three shedding the rattlesnake
is able to produce the typical rattle sound. In the wild, the rattles
are between 8-11 segments because longer rattles get caught in between
rocks and will break off. In captivity, they can have rattles with up
to 20 segments because of the protected environment. |
Social Organization:
The Northwestern neotropical rattlesnake is a solitary animal. It
spends most of its time alone; except during the mating season when
it goes around in search of a mate. |
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Special Adaptations:
 The
Northwestern Neotropical rattlesnake is characterized by its
large size, pronounced vertebral ridge, and a highly potent venom.
This rattlesnake delivers a large dose of venom through long, hollow
fangs that fold back when the mouth is closed. When the snake strikes,
the fangs fully extend, acting as two miniature hypodermic needles.
Typically, the pit viper possesses hemotoxic venom that damages the
tissue area surrounding the bite area. This species venom contains
a high percent of neurotoxins that are generally associated with Elapids
(Cobras, Mambas, and Kraits) bites. This type of venom works primarily
on the central nervous system in that it affects muscle control, respiration,
locomotion, and the senses. Symptoms may include mental incoherence,
slurred speech, partial blindness, chills, numbness and tingling,
vertigo, massive headaches and difficulty in swallowing. The Northwestern
neotropical rattlesnake usually hunts at night using the infrared
sensors located in the pit between its eyes and nostril to locate
prey, hence the name Pit Viper. These pits are so sensitive as to
detect a single degree variation in temperature making warm-blooded
animals an easy target. The size and venom toxicity of this species
makes it a formidable predator, and is considered a threat to man. |
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Reproductive Behavior:
Northwestern neotropical rattlesnakes are viviparous, giving birth
to live young. Young snakes are born after a gestation period of 4-6
months and are able to take care of themselves as soon as they are born.
While eggs with incubation period of 2-3 months are more vulnerable.
An average litter consists of 5-10 young. Young rattlesnakes are between
15-35cm long at birth, and can deliver a painful bite the day they are
born. They are sexually mature after 3 years. The longevity in nature
and in captivity is estimated to be between 12- 25 years. |
Animal at the Zoo:
The Northwestern neotropical rattlesnake is a sit and wait predator,
so it spends most of its time curled up in an alert position. It sometimes
moves under or stays close to the rock that hedges its home in the herpetarium. |
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Page Author:
Ewomazino Egweh. Email: kezino@yahoo.com
Sources and Links: 1. Fort Worth Zoo Informational Placard. |
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