Natural History and the encounter with an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)

 


Common: Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
Scientific: Crotalus adamanteus

The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake derives from the Order Squamata and the Family Crotalidae or Viperidae: Crotalinae (pit-vipers). This species is the largest of Rattlesnakes and are very venomous with front fangs that inject the venom into its victim. This particular one had a blackish-gray and yellowish-brown coloration and it was located mid-afternoon basking in the sun in a grassy woodland area to acquire heat and raise body temperature. It was found in a coiled position which allows it to conserve the body heat and provides less surface area which means it was probably at a warm temperature and was trying to reduce the amount of heat absorption. This individual Rattlesnake was identified to be a female. It appeared to about the average size between 3-6 feet. This snake is interesting because it has very cool features to help distinguish it. It has pits on the side of its face near the nostrils that help locate prey using Infrared detection, a diamond-shaped pattern across its body, front fangs, verticle pupils, and a distinctive black band over its eyes. It was overall an interesting experience and was a cool thing to see. I am glad we did not provoke but seeing and hearing the rattle would have been cool. It was crazy to think that we walked past it at first had me think what else is closer to us and how we least expect it, but it was really interesting to learn how you can track them by waves, transmitters, and using temperatures from above and below the lands. It did not seem to complicated but the technology used for was something I have never seen and it was a great experience. I enjoyed that trip!