Southwestern speckled rattlesnake
A species of Rattlesnakes, Also known as Bleached rattlesnake, Pallid rattlesnake, Speckled rattlesnake Scientific name : Crotalus pyrrhus Genus : Rattlesnakes
Southwestern speckled rattlesnake, A species of Rattlesnakes
Also known as:
Bleached rattlesnake, Pallid rattlesnake, Speckled rattlesnake
Scientific name: Crotalus pyrrhus
Genus: Rattlesnakes
Content
Description General Info
Photo By hikingsandiego , used under CC-BY-NC-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. A medium-sized snake, it is found mostly in rocky country, active at night and feeding on small mammals. The coloration is variable and depends on the color of the rocks and soil of the habitat.
General Info
Lifespan
15-20 years
Diet
Southwestern speckled rattlesnake, a carnivorous reptile, predominantly feeds on small mammals such as rodents. It ambushes its prey, employing its venom to immobilize, subsequently swallowing it whole.
Appearance
The southwestern speckled rattlesnake is a medium-sized, heavy-bodied snake with a distinctive triangular head. It has rough scaly skin in diverse hues of orange, pink, and brown, which forms beautiful diamond-shaped patterns. Its colors blend perfectly with desert sand and rocks. This snake possesses a large rattle at the end of its tail which is used for warning when threatened. There are no notable differences in appearance based on gender, age or subspecies.
Behavior
Southwestern speckled rattlesnake is a primarily nocturnal, solitary species. Their behaviors involve hunting small mammals and birds, using a heat sensory organ to detect prey in the absence of light. This species exhibits aggressive defensive actions including tail vibrations and venomous strikes when threatened. It employs a unique survival tactic of blend-in camouflage within their dry, rocky environments.
Photo By hikingsandiego , used under CC-BY-NC-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original