Facts About the Diamondback Rattle Snake

There are actually three different species of snake that are commonly referred to as the diamondback rattlesnake--the eastern diamondback, western diamondback and the red diamond rattlesnake. All three species are found in the United States and Mexico, and two, the eastern and western diamondbacks, are considered to be some of the most dangerous and deadly snakes in North America.

  1. Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

    • Like all rattlesnakes, the western diamondback (scientific name Crotalus atrox) is of the viperidae family of snakes. It is very large and can typically reach lengths of up to five feet, and in rare cases can exceed six feet. They are found in the deserts and rocky areas of central and western Texas, and in the southern areas of California, Arizona and New Mexico as well as parts of Mexico.

      When threatened the western diamondback will coil up and shake its rattle as a warning. If the threat doesn't move fast enough or continues to be of concern to the snake, it will attack, biting its victim with long fangs that inject a powerful venom. More people are killed every year by bites from the western diamondback rattlesnake than any other snake in America.

    Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

    • The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in North America. It commonly reaches lengths of up to eight feet and weighs up to 10 pounds. The snakes live in an area that encompasses all of Florida and stretches to Louisiana on the Gulf of Mexico and to North Carolina on the Atlantic coast. They prefer to live in coastal habitats and dry woodland areas and only attack humans when provoked or disturbed. While there are less reported attacks by eastern diamondbacks than their western counterparts, their venom is just as deadly.

    Red Diamond Rattlesnake

    • Like its name suggests, the red diamond rattlesnake can be differentiated from other diamondback species by its reddish color, which is in contrast to the black-and-yellow pattern of the eastern diamondback and the brown coloration of the western variety. It too can get very large, and can reach lengths up to five feet. Most however, usually stay within two and a half to three and a half feet.

      The red diamond rattlesnake is found in Southern California and in parts of Mexico around the Baja region. The venom of the red diamond is far less potent than the venom of the eastern and western diamondbacks, and they tend to inhabit areas with little human population. Therefore they account for very few serious snakebites in America.

    Venom Effects

    • The venom of all three diamondback rattlesnakes is very similar, just varying in degrees of potency. It is injected via ducts in the snakes' fangs, which are hollow and unfold from the snakes' mouth when they strike.

      Once injected into a victim the venom goes to work immediately and causes intense pain around the bite area. The hemotoxic compound destroys tissue around the bite area in a process that is designed to help aid the digestion of the prey. The venom from a diamondback snake also causes internal hemorrhaging and can damage the circulatory system within minutes. The venom of baby rattlesnakes is even more deadly and contains powerful neurotoxins that can effect breathing.

    Additional Facts

    • All diamondback rattlesnakes are pit vipers, and have special organs in their heads called pits that can detect the body heat of other animals. This helps them both find potential prey and avoid predators. All rattlesnakes are also live breeders, and can give birth to 10 to 20 snakes every two years.

      At birth the snakes have no rattlers. These develop over time as the snake sheds its skin. They reach maturity at around two years of age, and can live up to 20 years. The prey for all diamondback snakes is similar as well, and all three will hunt small mammals such as mice, squirrels and rabbits as well as any small lizard they come across.