Why do snakes have rattles

Scientific Name: Crotalus adamanteus. Type: Reptiles. Diet: Carnivore. Size: 5. Weight: 5 pounds. Explore more! Amazing animals videos Watch to discover interesting facts about animals from all over the world. Save the Earth tips Save the Earth tips. Endangered Species Act How this law protects animals. Pet Central Big or small, furry or scaly, we love pets and we know you do too.

More than 35 species of rattlesnakes live in the Americas, from southern Canada all the way to Argentina. When threatened, the snakes rapidly shake the tips of their tails like biological castanets, rattling interlocking sections of hollow keratin, the same stuff hair and fingernails are made of. See pictures of rattlesnakes. This works because snakes are ectotherms, or cold-blooded. Rattlesnakes vary their rattles for other reasons, as well. Pregnant rattlesnakes or those who have just given birth tend to be more aggressive, while those that are safely hidden below a rock or near a hole are less inclined to rattle.

Some rattlesnakes are hard-pressed to rattle at all, relying instead on their expert camouflage to hide them from danger. In fact, some scientists believe the rattle originally might have been a way to keep bison from stepping on the camouflaged snakes.

Predators may be listening in on that communication, too. With a mouthful of venom capable of destroying skin and blood cells, it might be tempting to think that rattlesnakes are immune to predators altogether. But nothing could be further from the truth. Scott Boback , an evolutionary ecologist at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, uses remote cameras to study rattlesnakes as part of an experiment called Project RattleCam.

Murphy frequently encounters rattlesnakes while studying their interactions with other predators, such as bobcats, foxes, and coyotes. She says there are a few easy rules for staying safe. Do not handle them, obviously. Maintain a distance of at least six feet and resist the urge to move nearby branches or other bits of habitat so you can get a good picture. All rights reserved.

Share Tweet Email. Read This Next Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. In 4 seconds , you will be redirected to nwfactionfund. The National Wildlife Federation. Classification: Reptile. Description Rattlesnakes are highly specialized, venomous reptiles with large bodies and triangle-shaped heads. Diet Rattlesnakes eat mostly rodents, but may also eat insects and other reptiles.

Behavior When rattlesnakes sense a threat, different species have developed various ways to protect themselves. Conservation Most species are stable, but one species and one subspecies are federally listed as threatened. Fun Fact Although rattlesnakes may seem scary to people, they play a very important role in their ecosystems by controlling small mammal populations.

Donate Today. Sign a Petition. Donate Monthly. Nearby Events. All trick, no treat? The high price of harvesting cocoa for chocolate Read More. Read More. Learn More.