Rattlesnake why it was called that. Rattlesnakes: venomous or not, where they are found, why they were called that

She is the heroine of many Hollywood films. To be recognized, she does not even have to appear in the frame as a whole, it is enough for the sound engineer to turn on a characteristic sound that vaguely resembles maracas, as the viewer gets chills from realizing the thought that it is a rattlesnake.

Viper relative

One of the most venomous reptiles is a direct relative of vipers. The rattlesnake is on the list of the viper family, belongs directly to the subfamily of venomous, pit viper snakes. Scientists endowed the subfamily with this nickname because of the presence of a special organ located in the recess between the eye and nostrils.

It allows the cold-blooded predator to "see" the prey by the heat emanating from it. In other words, the rattlesnake can lie in wait for the victim in absolute darkness and attack when she suspects nothing.

Description

To date, scientists have discovered 224 species of snakes called rattlesnakes, or rattlesnakes. In length, they can reach from fifty centimeters to three and a half meters. The pattern on the scales can also have all sorts of shades and patterns. Often they are colored in contrast and do not try to disguise themselves.

The head of the vast majority of species is triangular. In the mouth, there are always two practically hollow poisonous teeth. The pupils of the eyes are vertical. Depressions (pits) are located at the nostrils, in which there are receptors for changes in the temperature of the environment, for this they are referred to the subfamily of pit vines. They owe the name of their species to another feature of their body structure. The tail of these snakes is crowned with a rattle. This is a growth of exfoliated scales, which, when vibrated, emits a rattling sound, but not all representatives of this species have it.

The secret of the rattle

The rattlesnake, as already mentioned, has a rattle at the end of its tail. For some time it was not clear why a snake, hunting in the dark and at the same time not emitting a single sound, was suddenly endowed with such a de-disguising agent from nature. But everything falls into place if you know exactly who she is hunting. Its diet consists of small mammals and birds. She just warns large animals (including humans) by making a noise with her rattle. Thus, it can be considered the most humane of poisonous snakes.

This growth at the end of the tail is made up of dead scales. Their number increases with each change of the reptile's skin. Therefore, by counting the scales on the rattle, you can find out how long the snake has lived. Inside, the rattle is completely empty, which is why the sound turns out to be so sonorous.

Lifestyle and habitat

According to herpetologists, 106 species of rattlesnakes (photos of some representatives are presented in the article) settled in America, and 69 in South Asia. The most common of the pit-heads are the shitomordniki. They live both in desert regions and in mountainous areas. Lifestyle can vary depending on the subspecies. Some hunt and spend most of their time in the trees. For others it is easier and more convenient to crawl on the plain, and for the third, give rocky ledges and peaks.

When the ambient temperature rises, rattlesnakes hide under stones, logs, fleeing excess ultraviolet radiation. They show activity with the onset of dusk. True, they live in this mode only in the hot season. On a fine, cool day, rattlesnakes move in the sun.

Once having chosen a hole for itself, a rattlesnake can live in it for many years, and then its descendants. Several individuals can live in the rattlesnake's den. During the hibernation season, they can be woven into a ball all together, warming each other. But some still prefer solitude.

Rattlesnakes hunt exclusively in ambush, trapping their prey (rodents, small birds, fish, frogs, lizards, caterpillars and cicadas). As soon as the potential food comes within the throwing distance, the snake attacks, grabbing it with its teeth, injecting poison and then devouring it whole. During the day, the rattlesnake relies on vision (the object must move), and at night it accurately determines the size and distance to the victim using receptors under the eyes. They help to distinguish the slightest changes in temperature up to three thousandths of a degree.

Danger to humans

A rattlesnake bite is very dangerous for humans, but it rarely comes to this. The snake first warns of its presence with a ratchet on its tail, and if a person behaved incorrectly, that is, provoked it, then a throw follows. They are very shy, and the fear of the pit-headed snake develops into aggression. Therefore, having heard the noise of a rattle, one should freeze and slowly move away from the creature in the opposite direction from it.

If the snake has bitten, then you need to call an ambulance, and raise the bitten limb up. In no case should you pinch the bite site with a tourniquet or try to suck out the poison. Its juice destroys the cells of the body. The one who sucks it off runs the risk of swallowing poisonous substances and dying of anaphylactic shock faster than the victim.

With an increase in population and a directly proportional decrease in space for reptiles, seasonal rattlesnake invasions are observed in the United States every year. But according to statistics from the United States, 3-4 people die out of 8,000 victims a year.

Surely, many have heard of such a reptile as rattlesnake, so named because of the intimidating rattle, which is crowned with the tip of the tail. Not everyone knows that the toxicity of this snake family is simply off scale, there are many deaths from the bites of rattlesnakes. But what is the character, lifestyle and habits of this poisonous person? Maybe, having learned about this in more detail, this reptile will no longer seem so scary and insidious?

Origin of the species and description

Rattlesnakes are venomous creatures belonging to the family. They are classified as a subfamily of pit-headed snakes due to the fact that in the area located between the nostrils and eyes, reptiles have pits that are hypersensitive to temperature conditions and infrared radiation. These devices help to feel the presence of prey precisely by its body temperature, which differs from the temperature of the surrounding air. Even in impenetrable darkness, the rattlesnake will sense the slightest change in temperature and detect a potential victim.

Video: Rattlesnake

So, one of the main signs of rattlesnakes or rattlesnakes, or pit vipers are the above-described pits receptors. Then the question arises: "Why is the snake called a rattlesnake?" The fact is that some species of this creeping person have a rattle at the end of the tail, consisting of movable scales, which, when shaken by the tail, produce a sound resembling crackling.

Interesting fact: Not all rattlesnakes have a tail rattle, but those who do not have it still belong to rattlesnakes (pit vipers).

There are two kinds of reptiles that can be considered rattlesnakes without any doubt: true rattlesnakes (Crotalus) and pygmy rattlesnakes (Sistrurus).

Their closest relatives include:

• shitomordnikov;
• spearhead snakes;
• temple keffiys;
• bushmasters.

In general, the subfamily of pit vines includes 21 genera and 224 snake species. The genus of true rattlesnakes consists of 36 species.

Let's describe some of them:

• the Texas rattlesnake is very large, its length reaches two and a half meters, and its mass is about seven kilograms. He inhabits, and south;
• a monstrous rattlesnake, also of considerable size, reaching a length of two meters, was registered in the west of the Mexican territory;
• the rhombic rattlesnake is very beautifully painted with contrasting rhombuses, and has impressive dimensions - up to 2.4 m. The snake inhabits Florida (USA) and is fertile, producing up to 28 offspring;
• the horned rattlesnake is distinguished by skin folds located above the eyes, which are similar to horns, they prevent sand from entering the snake's eyes. This reptile is not large in size, its body length is from 50 to 80 cm;
• the striped rattlesnake lives in the southern part of the United States, it is very dangerous, its concentrated venom threatens the bitten with death;
• rocky rattlesnake with a length not reaching even a meter (about 80 cm), lives in the southern part of the States and in Mexican territory. Its poison is very potent, but its character is not aggressive, therefore there are not so many victims of bites.

Only a couple of species belong to the genus of dwarf rattlesnakes:

• the millet dwarf rattlesnake inhabits the southeast of the North American continent, its length is about 60 cm;
• the chain rattlesnake (massasauga) has chosen Mexico, the United States and southern Canada. The length of the snake's body is no more than 80 cm.

Appearance and features

Snakes of the Pit-head subfamily have different sizes, depending on a particular species, the length of their body can be from half a meter to more than three meters.

The colors also have different variations and tones, rattlesnakes can be:

• beige;
• bright green;
• emerald;
• white;
• silvery;
• black;
• brownish red;
• yellowish;
• dark brown.

Monotony in color is present, but it is much less common, specimens with various ornaments predominate: diamond-shaped, striped, spotted. Some species generally have original patterns of various intricacies.

Of course, there are common features in rattlesnakes that are not related to one or another species and place of residence of the reptile. This is a wedge-shaped head, a pair of long poisonous fangs, sensitive locator pits and a rattle or rattle with which the tail is equipped (do not forget that in some species it is absent). The rattle is presented in the form of an outgrowth of dead skin scales, with each molt their number is added, but the age of the snake cannot be recognized from them, because the most extreme scales of the rattle gradually completely fly off the tail.

The reptile uses a rattle for warning purposes, it scares large animals and humans with it, thereby saying that it is better to bypass it, as rattlesnakes show a kind of humanity.

Where does the rattlesnake live?

Judging by the research of herpetologists, one-second of all rattlesnakes have chosen the American continent (approximately 106 species). 69 species have settled in the southeast of Asia. Only shitomordniki inhabit both hemispheres of the Earth. In our country, there are two varieties of shchitomordnikov - ordinary and eastern, they are registered on, live in the territory of Central Asia. Eastern can be found in the vastness, and where the local population actively uses it for food.

Ordinary shitomordnik also took a fancy to, Korea, China, the hump-nosed shitomordnik can be found on and in. Smooth takes, and. It is not hard to guess that the Himalayan cormorant lives in the massifs, climbing to a five-kilometer height.

All kinds of keffis are stationed in the countries of the Eastern Hemisphere, the largest of them is the one and a half meter hub inhabiting Japan. Mountain keffiys live on the Indochina peninsula and in the Himalayan mountain ranges, and bamboo - in the territories of India and.

So, wet, and high mountain ranges, and arid ones are not alien to the pit-heads. There are also aquatic varieties of these. Rattlesnakes live in the crowns of trees, and on the ground, and high in the mountains. During the day, when the heat overcomes, they do not leave their shelters, located under boulders, in rocky crevices, various burrows. In search of the most favorable and secluded place for rest, reptiles use all the same sensitive pits-locators that do not let them down.

What does a rattlesnake eat?

The pitcher's menu is quite diverse, it consists of:

• rats;
• feathered;
• lizards;
• all kinds of insects;
• other small snakes.

Young animals feed on insects and with their bright tip of tail lures lizards and frogs to themselves. Rattlesnakes do not take patience, they can wait for a potential victim for a long time, hiding in ambush. As soon as it comes to the right distance, which is suitable for throwing, the snake's neck bends and attacks the poor fellow with lightning speed. The length of the throw reaches a third of the body length of the reptile.

Like all viper relatives, pit vipers do not use any suffocating techniques for the victim, but kill her with their poisonous bite. As already mentioned, in the impenetrable darkness, their heat-trapping pits help them to detect prey, which instantly feel even the slightest change in temperature, thanks to which the rattlesnakes can see the infrared silhouette of the victim. After the poisonous blow has successfully completed, the snake begins its meal, always swallowing the lifeless body from the head.

In one sitting, the rattlesnake can eat a considerable amount of food, which is half the mass of the hunter herself. This is not surprising, because rattlesnakes eat about once a week, so they go hunting, pretty hungry. It takes a lot of time to digest, which is why the breaks between meals are so long. Reptiles also need water, they get some of the moisture from the food they get, but they do not have enough of it. Snakes drink in a peculiar way: they immerse their lower jaw in water, thus saturating the body with the necessary fluid through the capillaries of the mouth.

Interesting fact: Often rattlesnakes in captivity go on hunger strike, they do not even care about rodents running by. There are cases when reptiles have not eaten for more than one year.

Features of character and lifestyle

The variety of rattlesnakes is so great that their permanent locations are completely different territories. Some species practice terrestrial existence, others - arboreal, others - aquatic, many occupy mountain ranges. Still, they can be called thermophilic, the average optimum temperature for them is from 26 to 32 degrees with a plus sign. They are also able to survive a short cold snap up to 15 degrees.

With the arrival of cold weather, snakes are immersed in hibernation, all their life processes slow down very much. Many species of rattlesnakes form large clusters (up to 1000) to help them survive hibernation. When they all come out of suspended animation at the same time, then one can observe a kind of serpentine invasion, this is a frightening sight. Some species hibernate alone.

They love snakes, especially those in position, to bask in the rays of the first sun. In unbearable heat, they prefer to hide in secluded shady places: under stones, in holes, under dead wood. They begin to be active in such sultry weather at twilight, getting out of their shelter.

Interesting fact: Many species of rattlesnakes live in the same den for generations, passing it down by inheritance for many years. Often, entire colonies of snakes live in this hereditary domain.

These reptiles do not possess an aggressive disposition; they will not pounce on a person or a large animal without a reason. With their rattle, they give a warning that they are armed and dangerous, but an attack will not follow if they are not provoked. When there is nowhere to go, the rattler makes its poisonous attack, which can lead the enemy to death. In the United States alone, 10 to 15 people die from rattlesnake bites every year. In those regions where snakes are common, many people carry an antidote with them, otherwise there would be many more victims. So, the rattlesnake attacks only in extreme situations, for the purpose of self-defense, possessing a timid and peaceful disposition.

It should be noted that the vision of the rattlesnake is not his strongest point, he sees objects vaguely if they are not in motion and reacts only to moving objects. Its main and very sensitive organs are the pits-sensors that react even to a miniscule change in temperature near the reptile.

Social structure and reproduction

For the most part, rattlesnakes are viviparous, but there are some species related to oviparous. A sexually mature snake male is ready for annual mating games, and the female takes part in them once in a three-year period. The wedding season can be in spring or early autumn, depending on the species and snake habitat.

When a lady is ready for the courtship of gentlemen, she releases specific smelling pheromones that attract potential partners. The male begins to pursue his passion, sometimes they crawl and rub their bodies against each other for several days. It happens that more than one gentleman claims the heart of a woman, therefore duels take place between them, where the chosen one is the winner.

Interesting fact: The female can store the male's sperm until the next wedding season, that is, she can acquire offspring without the participation of a male.

Ovoviviparous snakes do not lay eggs; they develop in utero. Usually 6 to 14 babies are born. In oviparous rattlesnakes in a brood, there can be from 2 to 86 eggs (usually 9 to 12 eggs), which they tirelessly protect from any encroachments.

At about ten days of age, babies have their first molt, as a result of which a rattle begins to form. The tails of young animals are often very brightly colored, standing out sharply against the background of the entire body. Snakes, moving these bright tips, lure lizards and frogs to themselves for a snack. On average, the life of rattlesnakes in natural conditions lasts from 10 to 12 years, there are specimens that live up to twenty. In captivity, rattlesnakes can live for all thirty years.

Natural enemies of rattlesnakes

Although pit-headed individuals are poisonous, have a frightening rattle on their tail, many ill-wishers themselves hunt them in order to feast on reptiles.

Rattlesnakes can become victims:

• red-tailed;
• large snakes;
• Californian running cuckoos;
• peacocks.

Most often, inexperienced young animals suffer and die from the attacks of the above enemies. Snake venom either does not work at all on the opponents of rattlesnakes, or has a very weak effect, so attacking animals and birds are not very afraid of it.

Interesting fact: On television, a case was shown when a fisherman caught a large trout, in the stomach of which there was a rattlesnake more than half a meter long.

It is always sad to realize that humans have a detrimental effect on many members of the fauna. Rattlesnakes are no exception to this list and are also often killed by human intervention. People destroy reptiles, both directly, hunting them in order to obtain a beautiful snake skin, and indirectly, through their various activities that interfere with the normal life of rattlesnakes.

In addition to all the enemies mentioned, snake persons are greatly influenced by climatic conditions, which, at times, are very unfavorable and harsh. Especially youngsters often do not survive cold times.

Population and status of the species

Unfortunately, the population of rattlesnakes is gradually decreasing. And the main reason for this situation is the human factor. People invade the territories where these reptiles have always lived and drive them out, mastering ever greater expanses. Deforestation, drainage of wetlands, large-scale plowing of land for agricultural purposes, urban sprawl, construction of new highways, environmental degradation, and depletion of the food supply lead to a reduction in rattlesnakes. In some areas, where they used to be common, now they practically do not live. All this suggests that the situation there for reptiles is unfavorable.

A person harms rattlesnakes not only by his barbaric actions, but also directly, when he hunts snakes purposefully. The hunt is carried out in pursuit of beautiful snake skin, from which expensive shoes are made, bags and purses are sewn. In many countries (especially Asian), rattlesnake meat is eaten, preparing a wide variety of dishes from it.

Surprisingly, common domestic pigs are immune to the poisonous bites of rattlesnakes, apparently due to the fact that they are very thick-skinned. They are happy to feast on rattlesnakes if they manage to catch them. For this purpose, farmers often release whole herds of pigs into the fields, because of which the reptiles also die. The decline in the population of rattlesnakes is constantly observed, as a result of which some of their species are very rare and are considered endangered, which cannot but worry.

Rattlesnake guard

As mentioned, some rattlesnake species are on the verge of extinction. One of the rarest rattlesnakes in the world is the monochromatic rattlesnake living on the exotic island of Aruba. It was included in the IUCN Red List as a critical species. Scientists believe that there are no more than 250 of them left, the number continues to decline. The main reason is the lack of territory, which is almost completely occupied by people. Conservation actions to save this species are as follows: the authorities banned the export of the reptile from the island, the Arikok National Park was formed, whose area is about 35 square kilometers. And at present, scientific research is underway aimed at preserving this species of rattlesnake, in this regard, the authorities are conducting explanatory work among tourists and the indigenous population.

The rattlesnake of Mexico's Santa Catalina Island is also believed to be. She is endemic, the uniqueness of the reptile is manifested in the fact that nature has not endowed her with a rattle. Wild cats living on the island cause great damage to the population of these rattlesnakes. In addition, the deer hamster, which was considered the main source of food for these snakes, has become very rare. In order to preserve these unique reptiles, a wild feline reduction program is underway on the island.

A very rare species is the Steinger Rattlesnake, named after the herpetologist Leonard Steinger. She lives in the mountains in the west of the Mexican state. Rare varieties include the small cross-striped rattlesnake inhabiting the central part of Mexico. It remains only to prevent further deterioration of the vital activity of these rattlesnakes and to hope that protective measures will bear fruit. If it is not possible to achieve an increase in their livestock, then at least it will remain stable.

Summing up, I would like to note that rattlesnakes in all their diversity are not so scary, harsh and ruthless, as many argue about them. It turns out that their disposition is meek, and their character is calm. The main thing is not to act as an aggressor when meeting this amazing serpentine person, so as not to force her to start defending herself. Rattlesnake without a reason, the first will not attack, she will humanely warn the ill-wisher with her unique ratchet.

The rattlesnake is one of the most dangerous reptiles, whose venom can quickly kill a person. There are many rumors about her.

In this article, we will take a closer look at what she is and where you should be on the lookout to avoid unwanted meeting with her.

What it looks like and why it was called that

The whole subfamily of pit-headed snakes is called a rattlesnake in the broadest sense of the term. They are called pits because of the two heat-sensitive pits between the eyes and nostrils.

By the way, with a rattle on its tail, emitting a rather loud rustle, there are only 2 species of rattlesnakes: real and dwarf.

Did you know?Sometimes, in panic attacks, the pit snake begins to bite everything around, including itself, but its own poison is not dangerous for the reptile itself.

Features of the appearance of rattlesnakes are as follows:

• reptiles within a subfamily can differ both in the color of almost all colors of the rainbow and patterns (rattlesnakes of completely the same color are rarely found), and in length, which varies from 0.5 m (ciliated viper) to 3.5 m (bushmeister);
• the pattern is mainly formed by intertwined thick stripes or rhombuses;
• the head of these representatives of reptiles is wedge-shaped with small eyes and two long, hollow, poisonous teeth;
• the pupils of the rattlesnakes are vertical;
• thanks to the thermosensitive dimples on the snake's face, the snake recognizes the victim well in the dark due to the temperature difference between the prey and the environment. These receptors are capable of detecting a difference of 0.1 ° C.
• at the end of the tail there are ring-shaped keratinities, which, as mentioned above, not all are capable of making a perceptible sound. The rattlesnake in rattlesnakes is formed during molt. The skin peels off the body and, curling up into a ring, remains on the tip of the tail. So, segment by segment, a ratchet grows in a reptile. Over time, the number of segments will add up in such a way that there will be enough rings in the rattle to make a characteristic sound. Gradually, some rings fall off, and others appear in their place. Horniness is hollow inside and freely rub against each other, which gives rise to their characteristic sound. It is because of this feature that the subfamily of pit vipers was called rattlesnakes.

Is a bite dangerous: the effects of poison on humans

The rattlesnake bite is considered extremely dangerous to humans. It is difficult to predict how the poison will affect a particular person, since the result is influenced by many factors, ranging from the site of the bite (the closer to the brain, the more dangerous) and ending with the psychophysical state of the victim.

If the toxin enters the bloodstream, it can lead to anaphylactic shock, kidney failure, difficulty breathing, internal hemorrhage, and death. In the United States alone, an average of 10 to 15 people die per year (one should take into account the prevalence of the antidote in those states where rattlesnakes live).

Among the common mistakes in first aid is trying to disinfect the wound with alcohol, which actually gives the opposite effect. Alcohol dilates the blood vessels and the poison is absorbed faster. Amputation of a bitten limb may also fail.

Important!The only real cure is the administration of snake venom serum.

When bitten, you must do the following:

1. The first step is to move the affected person away from the attack site to prevent further bites.
2. Call an ambulance or go yourself to a medical center where they can provide assistance.
3. The victim of the bite should perform as little movements as possible, since this increases the body temperature, which will only aggravate the situation.
4. Remove any jewelry or clothing that might constrict your limbs.
5. Rinse the wound with water.
6. It is better to keep the area of ​​the bite below the level of the heart.
7. If available, self-administer anti-snake serum.

The rattlesnake itself is cowardly and does not attack if there is an opportunity to escape.

Where does the rattlesnake live

Pit-heads live in very different conditions. There are species that live in desert or mountain areas, in the jungle, there are even several aquatic representatives.

The rattlesnakes are most widespread in Southeast Asia (69 species) and in the Americas (106 species). Shitomordnikov can be found in both hemispheres of the Earth, including the Far East and Central Asia.

The eastern cormorant lives in Japan, China and Korea, and the Himalayan is found at altitudes up to 5000 m above sea level. The habitat of rattlesnakes also includes Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Indochina, Java and Sumatra.

Rattlesnakes are active at night, including in order to avoid heat burns. They often hide in burrows of small rodents, under fallen trees or under rocks.
Before the onset of cold weather, reptiles come out of shelters to bask in the sun. This is especially true for pregnant snakes. Most wintering species prefer to gather in one place with their own kind in order to facilitate heating during hibernation.

Did you know?The rattlesnake can die at ambient temperatures above +45 ° C.

What eats

Rattlesnakes are predators by nature. They feed mainly on small rodents, although birds, frogs, lizards, small snakes, rabbits, grasshoppers, cicadas and even fish are also present in their diet.

Pitheads infect prey with poison, acting from an ambush. At the moment before the attack, the reptile's neck bends in the shape of the Latin letter "S", and the muzzle is directed towards the victim. The length of the throw is usually about a third of the body's length.

She eats on average once a week, consuming prey equal to half her own weight.

Who hunts the snakes themselves

Natural enemies of rattlesnakes are hawks, vultures, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, ferrets, some large species of snakes (for example, mussorans), hedgehogs, weasels, martens. This is due to the fact that on these animals the poison of the pitheads does not act at all or weakly.

Pigs are also considered to be rattlesnake-eating animals, through whose subcutaneous fat poisonous teeth are very hard to break through. Even the Californian running cuckoos can become a threat to the population.

And the most dangerous enemy for the described reptiles, of course, is the person himself, who hunts them because of their skin. And in some states of the United States and in the countries of Southeast Asia, snake meat is considered a delicacy and is in demand.

Reproduction

In April-May (that is, after wintering), these snakes mate. Often the seed is kept in the female until the next season. Most pit vipids are viviparous, but there are many that lay eggs.

Every rattlesnake is venomous, but not all can boast the tail rattle that gave its name to this vast subfamily of more than two hundred species.

Description

Rattlesnakes (in the broadest sense of the term) include one of the subfamilies belonging to the viper family... Herpetologists classify them as Crotalinae, at the same time calling them rattlesnakes or pit vipers (because of a pair of fossa thermo-locators, planted between the nostrils and eyes).

Surukuku (they are also formidable bushmasters), temple keffiys, heat rats, millet rattlesnakes, urutu, American spearhead snakes - all this crawling variety belongs to the Crotalinae subfamily, consisting of 21 genera and 224 species.

One of the genera bears the proud name Crotalus - real rattlesnakes. This genus includes 36 species, including miniature dwarf rattlesnakes, about half a meter long, as well as rhombic rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamanteus), reaching up to 2 and a half meters. By the way, the latter are considered by many herpetologists to be the classic and most beautiful rattlesnakes.

Snake appearance

Pit-head snakes differ in size (from 0.5 m to 3.5 m) and in color, which, as a rule, has a polychrome character. Scales can be painted in almost all colors of the rainbow - white, black, steel, beige, emerald, reddish-pink, brown, yellow and more. These reptiles are rarely monochromatic, unafraid to display intricate patterns and catchy colors.

The main background often looks like an interweaving of thick stripes, streaks or rhombuses. Sometimes, as in the case of the celebes keffiyeh, the predominant color (bright green) is only slightly diluted with thin blue-white stripes.

The rattlesnakes have a wedge-shaped head, two elongated canines (along which poison passes) and a tail rattle made of ring-shaped keratinities.

Important! Not all reptiles are equipped with rattles - they are not, for example, in the shitomordnikov, as well as in the Catalin rattlesnake living on about. Santa Catalina (Gulf of California).

The snake needs a tail rattle to scare off enemies, and its growth continues throughout its life. The thickening at the end of the tail appears after the first molt. During the next moults, fragments of old skin cling to this growth, leading to the formation of a relief ratchet.

When moving, the rings are lost, but most of them remain to serve as an instrument of intimidation / warning of the enemy. The vibration of a raised tail, crowned with a rattle, indicates that the reptile is nervous and you better get out of its way.

According to Nikolai Drozdov, the sound of vibrating rings is similar to the crackle produced by a narrow-film film projector and can be heard at a distance of up to 30 meters.

Life span

If rattlesnakes lived the entire period set by nature, they would not leave this world before 30 years. At least, this is exactly how many pit-heads live in captivity (in satiety and without natural enemies). At large, these reptiles do not always reach twenty, and the vast majority die much earlier.

Habitat, habitats

According to herpetologists, almost half of the rattlesnakes (106 species) live on the American continent and quite a few (69 species) in Southeast Asia.

The only pit-heads that have penetrated both earthly hemispheres are called shitomordniki.... True, in North America there are much fewer of them - only three species. Two (eastern and common shitomordniki) were found in the Far East of our country, in Central Asia and Azerbaijan. The oriental is also found in China, Japan and Korea, whose inhabitants have learned to cook excellent dishes from snake meat.

The common snake can be seen in Afghanistan, Iran, Korea, Mongolia and China, and the hunchback can be seen in Sri Lanka and India. The smooth mace lives in the Indochina Peninsula, Sumatra and Java. Himalayan prefers mountains, conquering peaks up to 5 thousand meters.

In the Eastern Hemisphere, a variety of keffiys live, the most impressive of which is considered to be a resident of Japan - a one and a half meter hub. Mountain keffiyeh was registered in the Indochina Peninsula and in the Himalayas, and bamboo - in India, Nepal and Pakistan.

In the Western Hemisphere, there are also other pit vines called botrops. The most numerous rattlesnakes in Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay are considered to be hot rattles, and in Mexico - urutu.

Rattlesnake lifestyle

The Pit Heads are such a diverse community that they can be found anywhere from deserts to mountains. For example, the water snake "grazes" in swamps, wet meadows, the banks of ponds and rivers, while Bothrops athrox prefers the tropical jungle.

Some rattlesnakes almost never get off the trees, others feel more confident on the ground, and still others have chosen the rocks.

On a sultry afternoon, rattlesnakes rest under boulders, trunks of fallen trees, under fallen leaves, in the bases of stumps and in holes left by rodents, gaining vigor closer to dusk. Nighttime activity is typical for the hot season: in the cool seasons, snakes are nimble in the daytime.

Chilly in the cold season, as well as pregnant reptiles, often sunbathe.

It is interesting! Many rattlesnakes remain for years faithful to the once chosen burrow, in which their numerous descendants continue to live. Nora seems to be inherited for tens and hundreds of years.

Such a family lair is inhabited by huge serpentine colonies. The first outing, hunting, mating and even seasonal migrations take place near the burrow. Some species of rattlesnakes hibernate in large companies, warming each other during hibernation, while others keep apart.

Diet, production

Rattlesnakes, as typical ambush predators, take a position and wait for the victim to approach within the throw distance. The signal of an upcoming attack is the S-shaped bend of the neck, in which the head of the rattlesnake looks towards the enemy. The length of the throw is equal to 1/3 of the length of the snake body.

Like other vipers, pit vipers attack prey with venom rather than choke hold. Rattlesnakes feed mainly on small warm-blooded animals, but not only on them. The diet (depending on the area) contains:

• rodents, including mice, rats and rabbits;
• birds;
• a fish;
• frogs;
• lizards;
• small snakes;
• insects, including cicadas and caterpillars.

Adolescent snakes often use their brightly colored tail tips to lure frogs as well.

During the day, rattlesnakes find prey with the help of ordinary organs of vision, but an object frozen without movement may not be noticed. At night, they come to the aid of temperature-responsive pits, distinguishing fractions of degrees. Even in the pitch blackness, the snake sees the heat circuit of the victim, created by infrared radiation.

Enemies of the rattlesnake

First of all, this is a person who destroys reptiles in hunting excitement or out of unjustified fear. A lot of rattlesnakes are crushed on the roads. In general, the population of pit-headed snakes, like other snakes, on the planet has declined significantly.

Factors that reduce the number of rattlesnakes include night frosts, which are deadly for newly hatched juveniles.

Reproduction of a rattlesnake

Most viviparous rattlesnakes mate after wintering (in April-May) or later, depending on the range. Often, summer sperm is stored in the female's body until next spring, and only in June the reptile lays eggs. In a clutch, there are from 2 to 86 (Bothrops atrox) pieces, but on average 9-12, and after three months the offspring are born.

As a rule, before laying eggs, females crawl away from their burrow for 0.5 km, but it happens that snakes hatch right in the family nest. After 2 years, the female, having regained her strength, will be ready for the next mating.

At the age of 10 days, rattlesnakes shed their skin for the first time, during which a "button" forms at the tip of the tail, which eventually turns into a rattle. Around the beginning of October, snakes are trying to find their way into their own burrow, but not everyone succeeds: some die from the cold and predators, others go astray.

Males of pit vultures reach sexual maturity by 2 years, females by three.