Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus adamanteus
Adult eastern diamondback rattlesnakes are large pit vipers of dry pine woods, coastal scrub, palmetto hammocks, and gopher tortoise burrows in the southeastern United States. They are ambush predators that feed mainly on rabbits, rats, squirrels, and ground-nesting birds, using heat-sensitive pits and a rapid venomous strike. When threatened, an adult usually coils, raises the head, and rattles loudly before biting as a last resort. This is the heaviest venomous snake in North America and can have an exceptionally large rattle segment stack in older individuals.
- Type
- Venom / Stealth
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- ?
- Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake