Prairie Rattlesnake
Crotalus viridis
Prairie rattlesnakes live in grasslands, shrublands, rocky outcrops, and prairie dog towns across the central and western plains of North America. They are ambush predators that use camouflage and heat-sensing pits to detect small mammals, birds, lizards, and amphibians. When threatened, they often coil, rattle, and strike only if the warning is ignored. Their venom helps subdue prey quickly and begins digestion before swallowing prey whole.
- Type
- Venom / Stealth
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- ?
- Prairie Rattlesnake