Barceloux, Donald G., ed. (2008). Medical toxicology of natural substances: foods, fungi, medicinal herbs, plants, and venomous animals. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-471-72761-3. Rattlesnakes generally take several years to mature, and females usually reproduce only once every three years. [73] Brumation [ edit ] Myers, Bob (1991). "Rattles". American International Rattlesnake Museum. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Archived from the original on 2022-06-30. Furman, Jon (2007). Timber rattlesnakes in Vermont and New York: biology, history, and the fate of an endangered species. UPNE. ISBN 978-1-58465-656-2. Rattlesnakes tend to avoid wide-open spaces where they cannot hide from predators, and generally avoid humans if they are aware of their approach. [82] Rattlesnakes rarely bite unless they feel threatened or provoked. A majority of victims (about 72% [83]) are males. Around half of bites occur in cases where the victim saw the snake, yet made no effort to move away. [36]

Like most other snakes, rattlesnakes aestivate during very hot or dry periods, which is why they are rarely seen during the hottest and driest months of summer. [78] Conservation status [ edit ]Rattlesnake venom is a mixture of five to fifteen enzymes, various metal ions, biogenic amines, lipids, free amino acids, proteins, and polypeptides. It contains components evolved to immobilize and disable the prey, as well as digestive enzymes, which break down tissue to prepare for later ingestion. [36] [40] The venom is very stable, and retains its toxicity for many years in storage. [36]

We have a 30-day return policy, which means you have 30 days after receiving your item to request a return.Like all pit vipers, rattlesnakes have two organs that can sense radiation; their eyes and a set of heat-sensing "pits" on their faces that enable them to locate prey and move towards it, based on the prey's thermal radiation signature. These pits have a relatively short effective range of about 1ft, but give the rattlesnake a distinct advantage in hunting for warm-blooded creatures at night. [26] [27] Heat-sensing pits located in blue circle on a rattlesnake specimen: Location of the pit is the same in all Viperidae. 1. Trigeminal nerve extending into the heat-sensing pit 2. Trigeminal nerve originating in the brain 3. Heat-sensing pit Heat-sensing pits [ edit ] Goldfrank, Lewis R., ed. (2006). Goldfrank's toxicologic emergencies (8thed.). McGraw-Hill Professional. p.1657. ISBN 978-0-07-147914-1. Price, Trevor D.; Qvarnström, Anna; Irwin, Darren E. (2003-07-22). "The role of phenotypic plasticity in driving genetic evolution". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences. 270 (1523): 1433–1440. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2003.2372. ISSN 0962-8452. PMC 1691402. PMID 12965006.