Monday, April 2, 2018
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)
The eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamants) is the largest species of rattlesnake, with an average length of 34-72 inches. On the field trip, the class encountered a large female named Venus, in which ARC has been tracking and keeping an eye on for over a year. The eastern diamondback has a restricted territory ranging from North Carolina to Louisiana, staying strictly in the Southeastern United States. This species is classified as a pit viper, and possess large pits under their noses which act as a thermo-sensory organ which is used in hunting and thermoregulation. Eastern diamondbacks are not endangered, but have lost a lot of their natural habitat due to deforestation and human interference. I was very excited and impressed to actually find a rattlesnake in the wild, having never seen one outside of a glass enclosure before. Diamondback rattlesnakes possess a venom that contains crotalase, which inhibits strong hemorrhagic activity. This venom will cause intense pain, and can lead to death if not treated quickly. This was a new experience for me and I hope to get the opportunity to work closely with these animals again.
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What types of habitat are preferred by this species?
This snake has a pretty wide range of habitats everything from deserts, rocky plains, forests, and coast lines. For this reason you could say this species is quite versatile. I was also impressed to find this snake especially with how calm it appeared to be when surrounded by our whole class. I think one of the big misconceptions I had going into this class was my fear of being attacked by snakes and other herps. It turns out that they really are not looking to strike out at humans and this is a misconception I think a lot of the general public have about snakes. That is why there are round ups and mass killings of snakes and this species in particular has been controversial as it has not been placed on the endangered species list, but it is disappearing.
Another thing that was mentioned out in the field that day was snake bites and how expensive the anti-venoms for them are so although it is unlikely you will get bitten still be cautious- not only for your health but also for your bank!
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