Rattlesnakes
Rattlesnakes
Crotalus
Reptilia
COMMON

Stats

Lifespan
10-25 yrs
Size
Medium
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Cathemeral
Social
Solitary
Biome
Desert and grassland
Range
The Americas
Movement
Slithering
Breeding
Live birth
Defense
Venom
Status
Common

About

This venomous pit viper lives in diverse habitats across North and South America. It vibrates its tail scales to create a warning sound before striking at prey.

Life cycle

  1. 1.
    hatchling
    A miniature snake emerges from the egg or from its mother (live-bearers), already venomous or strong-coiled in some species.
  2. 2.
    juvenile
    A juvenile sheds its skin, grows quickly, and hunts smaller prey than the adults.
  3. 3.
    adult
    Fully grown at adult length and pattern.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Family
Viperidae
Genus
Crotalus