The
latin species name for the canebrake (or timber rattlesnake, depending on where
you are and if you’re a splitter) translates roughly to “dreadful.” Some say
this is a reference to the snake’s venom, which is potent. In fact, the venom composition
varies greatly by individual and population. While it was originally considered
to be primarily hemotoxic, there is evidence that our southeastern populations
have a primarily neurotoxic component. This evolution of neurotoxic venom in a
crotalid is fascinating to me. Along with their interesting venom, canes are
incredibly beautiful and always impressive to see in the wild. That is why they
are one of my favorites to find while field herping.
The
canebrake rattlesnake can reach over 6ft in length and are a very heavy bodied
snake. Their colors can range from pink or blue to completely black. The
chevron pattern along the back is pretty good way to identify these snakes,
along with that obvious rattle. They have a wide range across the eastern U.S.,
using habitat that varies from lowland swamp to high elevation mountains. The
mountain populations tend to den together during the winter for hibernation.
Despite
the fact that populations are in decline across all of their range, many states,
including S.C., do not designate C. horridus as endangered or as a species of
concern and there are no federal protections for this species. As habitat
destruction and deforestation continue, the species will continue to decline in
our state.
These
pictures are a few of the canes I have found over the years here in S.C. They
are incredibly variable and beautiful, and deserve protection.
Information on venom: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5762023/
Species profile from SREL: https://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/crohor.htm
1 comment:
Gorgeous snakes!
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