Western diamondback rattlesnake

Western diamondback rattlesnake
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Clade:	Caenophidia
Clade:	Colubroides
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Crotalinae
Genus:	Crotalus
Species:	C. atrox
Binomial name
Crotalus atrox Baird & Girard, 1853
Synonyms
Crotalus cinereous Le Conte in Hallowell, 1852 [nomen oblitum] Crotalus atrox Baird & Girard, 1853 [nomen protectum] Crotalus adamanteus var. atrox Jan, 1859 Caudisona atrox var. atrox Kennicott, 1861 Caudisona atrox var. sonoraensis Kennicott, 1861 C[rotalus]. adamanteus var. atrox Jan, 1863 C[rotalus]. atrox var. sonoriensis Jan, 1863 C[audisona]. atrox Cope, 1867 Crotalus adamanteus atrox Cope in Yarrow in Wheeler, 1875 Caudisona atrox var. sonorensis Boulenger, 1896 Crotalus atrox atrox Cope, 1900 [Crotalus] atrox sonoraensis Amaral, 1929 Crotalus atrox Klauber, 1972 Crotalus sonoriensis Golay et al., 1993 Crotalus atrox Golay et al., 1993

The western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) is a species of venomous rattlesnake found in the deserts of the United States of America and Mexico. The western diamondback rattlesnake is responsible for most of the snakebites in northern Mexico and the U.S.A. There are currently no subspecies found.

Description

Adult western diamondback rattlesnakes usually grow up to the length of 120 cm (3.9 ft), but some grow up to the length of 150 cm (4.9 ft) and 180 cm (5.9 ft). The longest ever found was 213 cm (6.99 ft) long. Males are much larger than females, but they become larger when they mature. These rattlesnakes usually weigh about 1.8 to 2.7 kg (4.0 to 6.0 Ib), but some can weigh 6.7 kg (15 Ib).They are usually gray-brown in color, but some are pinkish brown, or brick red. It is then covered with dark gray-brown blotches and white stripes.

Common names

The western diamondback rattlesnake is also known as the "adobe snake", the "Arizona diamond rattlesnake", the "coon-tail snake", the "desert diamondback snake", the "spitting rattlesnake", the "Texan snake", and the "Texas diamondback rattlesnake".

Where they live

In the U.S.A, the western diamondback rattlesnake is found in central and western Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, southern and central New Mexico, southern and central Arizona, southern Nevada, and southeastern California. In Mexico it is found in Nuevo Leòn, Coahuila, Chihuahua, Sonora, northeastern Baja California, northern Sinaloa, northeastern Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosì, northern Veracruz, Hidalgo,and Querètaro. Some have been found on islands in the Gulf of California, like San Pedro Màtir, Santa Marìa, and Tìburon.

Habitat

The western diamondback rattlesnake is found in deserts, grasslands, pink-oak forests, coastal plains, and rocky canyons of the U.S.A and Mexico.

Behavior

Western diamondback rattlesnakes are one of the most aggressive rattlesnakes in North America, and usually coils and rattles when threatened. In the winters they hibernate in caves and burrows with other snake species. They are very poor climbers.

Feeding

Around 94% of a western diamondback rattlesnake's diet is made up of small mammals like the prairie dog, the kangaroo rat, the pocket gopher, the vole, the wood rat, the pocket mouse, the white-footed mouse, the harvest mouse, the ground squirrel, the rabbit and moles. They also eat lizards and birds. Some of the birds they eat are the mockingbirds, burrowing owls, black-throated sparrows, and the eastern meadowlark. The lizards they eat are the whiptail liazards, spiny lizards, Texas banded gecko, and the side-blotched lizard. They also eat insects like the ant, beetle, and grasshopper. They usually hunt in the early morning or at night. The western diamondback rattlesnake is eaten by coyotes, foxes, and hawks.

Reproduction

The western diamondback rattlesnake is, like all rattlesnakes, viviparous. A female is pregnant for around six to seven mouths before giving birth to her young. The young only stay with their mother for a few hours before leaving on their own to go and hunt. They mate in spring and the female gives birth to around 12 to 25 young at a time. When they are born they are around 30 cm (12 in) long. Young western diamondback rattlesnakes have a venomous bite from the moment they are born. Western diamondback rattlesnakes live for around 20 years.