Rattlesnakes are venomous serpents recognized by their tail end rattle that produces a whirring sound when the tail is rapidly shaken; this is a threat stance to warn prey and ward off predators.
Rattlesnakes belong to the Viper family (Viperidae). The Viperidae family is divided into three subfamilies: Viperinae, Crotalinae, and Azemiopinae. The Rattlesnake species are divided into the Crotalus and Sistrurus of the subfamily of Crotalinae, commonly referred to as Pit Vipers.
All Rattlesnakes are indigenous to the Americas and range from southern Canada to Mexico and Argentina and throughout the United States (US). In the US, the most predominant snakebites are from Rattlesnakes, but they only bite if provoked.
Table of Contents
- Types of Rattlesnakes
- Conclusion
Types of Rattlesnakes
There are 36 species of rattlesnakes; there are about 60 to 75 subspecies, all Rattlesnakes are Vipers. The Viper or Viperidae genus is divided into three main divisions- Viperinae, Crotalinae, and Azemiopinae. Rattlesnakes belong to the Crotalinae family.
Crotalinae
The rattlesnakes belong to the Crotalinae family, commonly referred to as Pit Vipers. They are classed according to two heat-detecting organs positioned on their face below their nostrils. These are the only genus to possess these organs, giving them a superior advantage as a predator.
These pits or sacs sense thermal radiation emitted from a warm-blooded animal. The detection range is relatively limited, at about 1 foot. Infrared light passes through tiny pin-hole openings that lead to a membrane with specialized tissues cells that warm and alert the Viperid of the presence of prey.
The membrane comprises an acute arrangement of heat-sensitive receptors that can detect changes in temperatures of 32.0054 °F or less within its range. These pits give the Viperids of the Crotalinae division a sixth sense.
Crotalinae are also characterized by their triangular head, shaped due to the developed venomous … Read the rest of the story.
No comments:
Post a Comment