Rattlesnakes
are venomous and belong to the pit viper family,
distinguished by a rattle at the end of the tail
comprises by a series of dried, hollow segments
of skin, which, when shaken, make a whirring sound.
When the snake is alarmed, it shakes its tail
to warn of intruders. While the snake is young,
three or four segments are usually added each
year, one at each molt. After maturity fewer develop
and old ones start to break off. Rattlesnakes
feed on rodents, birds, and other warm-blooded
animals. Like other pit vipers, they have heat-sensitive
organs in pits on the sides of the head, which
help them locate and strike at their prey in the
dark. The venom is highly toxic to humans and
occasionally proves fatal. |
