viperidae-Bussiek


 * Rattlesnake information **



__ **Family information** __

General Characteristics: Snakes in the viperidae family are all pit vipers, meaning that they have pits under their nose. They also have a forked tongue that helps them smell. A more specific characteristic is that they have long, venomous, hollow fangs. One characteristic that makes this family special is that they all are vipers. Vipers are snakes with long hollow fangs and a broad body.

**__ Snakes in this family __**** : ** 1)Timber Rattlesnake 2)Southern Pacific Rattlesnake 3)Mojave Rattlesnake

4)Prairie Rattlesnake

**__ Rattlesnake __**

**__Movement__****:** They move either by slithering or by coiling up and pushing. Rattlesnakes tend to be a bit sluggish. __**Adaptations**__: One adaptation is that they have a rattle. The Rattle serves as a warning device. Rattlesnakes have good eyesight. Since they can see up to 40 feet away, they can see any of its predators. Another adaptation is their pits under their noses. These help the Rattlesnake to hunt at night.
 * __Eating Habits__:** The Rattlesnake swallows their food whole and does not chew. It immobilizes its prey, so it does not have to hold the prey. The Rattlesnake can strike up to 2/3 its body length. Rattlesnakes eat lizards, and small rodents like ground squirrels, rats, mice, etc. The rattlesnake's venom can kill in twenty minutes.
 * __Size__:** It can grow up to 5 feet if it has a lot of food and a favorable environment. The largest Rattlesnake was 96 inches (8 feet) long. The average size is 3-4 feet long.
 * __ Reproduction __**** : **It takes about 90 days for babies to gestate. Rattlesnakes are   the only snakes that give live birth. The Rattlesnake can have approximately 9-10 babies at a time.

 Ø Kingdom: Animalia Ø Phylum: Chordata Ø Class: Reptilia Ø Order: squamata Ø Family: viperidae Ø Genus: Crotulus  Ø Species: Crotulus viridis **__ Male and Female differences __**** : **Males have a pointed rattle (like a Christmas tree). Females have a rattle with the same width the whole time (like a block).
 * __ Classification __**** : **
 * __ Other __**** : **King snakes, birds and humans are the only predators of the rattlesnakes. Humans kill the Rattlesnake for their rattle. The rattlesnakes have one of the most advanced venom system of any snake.


 * __Sources:__** Wikipedia Dessert USA