Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus adamanteus
Appearance
![Image of Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake [Crotalus adamanteus] | Ehrlich Pest Control](/images/image_433608.jpg)
- This is the largest rattlesnake and the heaviest venomous snake in the Americas.
- Average adult size is 91-183 cm, but it has been reported to be as big as 244cm.
- Body is a brown/yellow color with dark brown/black diamonds outlined by yellowish scales.
- Tail is a brownish or grey color which ends in a rattle.
- Head has a dark stripe that runs diagonally through the eye.
Lifecycle
- They mate in late summer and fall.
- Females usually give birth to on average a dozen young in their shelters.
- Young are born approx 30-36 cm long with markings similar to adults except they have a button at the end of the tail in place of the rattle.
- The young only stay with the mother for a couple of days before they go off to hunt for themselves and find their own shelter. This means that their mortality rate is fairly high.
- They can however live to over 20 years.
Habits
- They favor dry pine forests, sand pine scrub areas and coastal barrier islands as well as wet prairies during dry periods.
- Often inhabit gopher tortoise burrows as their shelters.
- They are strong swimmers and have been seen crossing water between islands and mainland.
- They feed on small mammals including mice, birds and rabbits.
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