Rattlesnake are a group of poisonous snakes of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus of the subfamily Crotalinae (vipers). The scientific name Crotalus which means “castanet”. The name Sistrurus is the Latinized form of the Greek word for “cola de chocalhar” and shares its root with the ancient Egyptian musical instrument, the sistrum, a type of rattle. The 36 known species of rattlesnakes have between 65 and 70 subspecies, all native to the Americas, ranging from southern Alberta and Saskatchewan and southern British Columbia in Canada to the central region of Argentina.
Rattlesnake are predators that live in a wide variety of habitats, hunting small animals, such as birds and rodents.
Rattlesnake shells are named after the rattle located at the end of their tails, which makes a loud noise when it vibrates that stops predators or serves as a warning to passers-by. However, jingle bells are the victims of hawks, gossips, king snakes and a variety of other species. The Rattlesnake are strongly predated as newborns, while they are still weak and immature. A large number of rattles are killed by humans. Rattle populations in many areas are severely threatened by habitat destruction, illegal hunting and extermination campaigns.
Rattlesnake are the main contributor to snakebite wounds in North America. However, the shells rarely bite unless provoked or threatened; if treated quickly, bites are rarely fatal.
Newborn casinos are strongly predated by a variety of species, including ravens, crows, roadrunners, raccoons, prawns, prawns, coyotes, comedones, whipsnakes, kingsnakes and runners. Newborns of the minor species of crotalin are often killed and eaten by small predatory birds, such as gaios, torches and spicy. Some species of ants of the genus Formica are known to attack newborns, and Solenopsis invicta (fire ants) probably also. Occasionally, hungry adult snakes cannibalize newborns. The small proportion (usually 20%) of rattlesnakes reaching the second year is strongly predated by a variety of larger predators, including coyotes, eagles, hawks, owls, hawks, wild pigs, badgers, indigo snakes and kingsnakes.
The common kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula), a builder, is immune to the venom of rattlesnakes and other snakes, and bells are part of their natural diet. The jingle bells feel the presence of the kings for their smell. [18] When they realize that a kingsnake is near, they begin to stage a set of defensive postures known as “body bridging”. Unlike its defensive and thorny posture, the rattlesnake keeps its head low on the ground, in an attempt to prevent the kingsnake from holding it (the head is the first part of the snake to be ingested). The rattle pushes its body, while it makes the bridge backwards, forming an elevated spiral towards the kingsnake. The high coil is used to attack the attacker and is also used to protect the head of the kingsnake.
