| Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus Crotalidae (Pit Vipers) |
| The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is a large bodied snake that reaches a maximum length of around 8 feet. They are confined to the southern coastal plains in the state of Mississippi and are not found in the Mississippi Delta. The diamondback rattlesnake inhabits pine flatwoods, sand hills and other low lying areas. They have diamond shaped markings that are outlined in white on the dorsum with a gray, yellowish, or brown body and two light stripes on each side of the head. They have large rattles that are quite loud. Diamondback rattlesnakes prey on mammals with adults | eating rats, squirrels, and rabbits; the young snakes eat smaller mammals like mice. Their
venom is also a Hemotoxin which
destroys
red blood cells, disrupts blood clotting, and causes tissue and organ
damage. Large eastern diamondback rattlesnakes can deliver large
quantities of highly toxic venom making them potentially the most dangerous snakes in
the United States. You should never attempt to capture C. adamanteus unless properly trained and have the proper safety equipment. |