![Canebrake Rattlesnake](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Canebrake_Rattlesnake.jpg)
The timber rattlesnake, canebrake rattlesnake, or banded rattlesnake (''Crotalus horridus'')
[ Wright AH, Wright AA (1957). ''Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada''. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates, a division of Cornell University Press. (7th printing, 1985). 1,105 pp. (in two volumes). . (''Crotalus horridus'', pp. 956–966.)] is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
pit viper endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...
to eastern North America. Like all other pit vipers, it is
venomous
Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...
, with a very toxic bite. ''C. horridus'' is the only
rattlesnake species in most of the populous
Northeastern United States and is second only to its relatives to the west, the
prairie rattlesnake Prairie rattlesnake may refer to:
* '' Crotalus viridis'', a.k.a. the plains rattlesnake, a venomous pitviper species native to the western United States, southwestern Canada, and northern Mexico.
* ''Sistrurus catenatus
The massasauga (''Sistr ...
, as the most northerly distributed venomous snake in North America.
[ Conant R (1975). ''A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition''. (First published in 1958). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates 1-48. (hardcover), (paperback). (''Crotalus horridus'', pp. 233–235 + Plate 35 + Map 178.)] No
subspecies are currently recognized.
Taxonomy
The timber rattlesnake was one of the many
reptile species originally described by
Carl Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his Nobility#Ennoblement, ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalise ...
in the landmark 1758
10th edition
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. ...
of his ''
Systema Naturae'', and still bears its original name ''Crotalus horridus''.
The subspecies ''C. h. atricaudatus'' (
Latreille ''in''
Sonnini and Latreille, 1802), often referred to as the canebrake rattlesnake,
is currently considered invalid.
Previously, it was recognized by
Gloyd (1936) and
Klauber (1936). Based on an analysis of geographic variation, Pisani et al. (1972) concluded no subspecies should be recognized. This was rejected by
Conant (1975), but followed by Collins and Knight (1980). Brown and Ernst (1986) found evidence for retaining the two subspecies, but state telling them apart without having more information than usual is not possible, including adult size, color pattern, the number of
dorsal scale rows, and the number of
ventral scales
In snakes, the ventral scales or gastrosteges are the enlarged and transversely elongated scales that extend down the underside of the body from the neck to the anal scale. When counting them, the first is the anteriormost ventral scale that cont ...
. Dundee and Rossman (1989) recognized ''C. h. atricaudatus'', but others take a more neutral point of view.
The timber rattlesnake is one of 36 species in the genus ''Crotalus.'' This genus can be distinguished from ''Sistrurus'' by the small scales atop the head, rather than nine large scales found on ''Sistrurus.''
Description
Adults usually grow to total length of .
In
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
, the smallest size females that could produce viable eggs was . Most adult timber rattlesnakes found measure less than in total length and weigh between , often being towards the lower end of that range. The maximum reported total length is (Klauber, 1956). Holt (1924) mentions a large specimen caught in
Montgomery County, Alabama
Montgomery County is located in the State of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, its population was 228,954, making it the fifth-most populous county in Alabama. Its county seat is Montgomery, the state capital. Montgomery County is included in th ...
, which had a total length of and weighed .
[ ] Large specimens can reportedly weigh as much as .
The
dorsal scales
In snakes, the dorsal scales are the longitudinal series of plates that encircle the body, but do not include the ventral scales
In snakes, the ventral scales or gastrosteges are the enlarged and transversely elongated scales that extend down t ...
are
keeled[ (''Crotalus horridus'', pp. 688-689 + Plates 619, 620, 653.)] and arranged in 21–26 scale rows at midbody (usually 25 rows in the southern part of its geographic range, and 23 rows in the northern part). The
ventral scales
In snakes, the ventral scales or gastrosteges are the enlarged and transversely elongated scales that extend down the underside of the body from the neck to the anal scale. When counting them, the first is the anteriormost ventral scale that cont ...
number 158–177 in males and 163–183 in females. Males have 20–30
subcaudal scales, while females have 15–26. The
rostral scale
The rostral scale, or rostral, in snakes and other scaled reptiles is the median plate on the tip of the snout that borders the mouth opening. Wright AH, Wright AA (1957). ''Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada''. Ithaca and London: ...
is normally a little higher than it is wide. In the internasal-prefrontal area there are 4–22 scales that include 2 large, triangular
internasal scales
In snakes, the internasal scales are those on top of the head between the scales that surround the nostrils. Wright AH, Wright AA (1957). ''Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada''. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. (7t ...
that border the rostral, followed by two large, quadrangular
prefrontal scales
The prefrontal scales on snakes and other reptiles are the scales connected to the frontals, towards the tip of the snout, which are in contact with the internasals.
See also
* Snake scales
* Scale (zoology)
In most biological nomenclature, ...
(anterior canthals) that may contact each other along the midline, or may be separated by many small scales. Between the
supraocular and internasal scales, only a single canthal scale is present. Five to seven
intersupraocular scales
In snakes, the interorbital scales, or intersupraoculars, are the scales on the top of the head between the plates surmounting the eyesWright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. . ( ...
are seen. The number of prefoveal scales varies between two and eight. Usually, the first
supralabial scale is in broad contact with the
prenasal scale
In reptiles, the nasal scale refers to the scale that encloses the nostril.Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. .
Sometimes this ...
, although slightly to moderately separated along its posteroventral margin by the most anterior prefoveals.
Dorsally
Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...
, they have a pattern of dark brown or black crossbands on a yellowish-brown or grayish background. The crossbands have irregular zig-zag edges, and may be V- or M-shaped. Often a rust-colored vertebral stripe is present. Ventrally, they are yellowish, uniform, or marked with black.
Melanism
The term melanism refers to black pigment and is derived from the gr, μελανός. Melanism is the increased development of the dark-colored pigment melanin in the skin or hair.
Pseudomelanism, also called abundism, is another variant of ...
is common, and some individuals are very dark, almost solid black.
[ Schmidt KP, Davis DD (1941). ''Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada''. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp. (''Crotalus horridus horridus'', pp. 301-302 + Plate 33; ''Crotalus horridus atricaudatus'', p. 302).]
Distribution and habitat
Timber rattlesnakes are present in the eastern United States from southern
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
and southern
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the nor ...
, south to
East Texas
East Texas is a broadly defined cultural, geographic, and ecological region in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Texas that comprises most of 41 counties. It is primarily divided into Northeast and Southeast Texas. Most of the region cons ...
and
North Florida
North Florida is a region of the U.S. state of Florida comprising the northernmost part of the state. Along with South Florida and Central Florida, it is one of Florida's three most common "directional" regions. It includes Jacksonville and near ...
. One hundred and fifteen rattlesnakes have been marked within
Brown County State Park
Brown County State Park is located in the United States in the center of the southern half of the state of Indiana. The park is by far the largest of 24 state parks in Indiana, and occupies —making it one of the larger state parks in the Unit ...
in
Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
, one of the few places where they can be found in the state.
Its historic range includes southern
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
and southern
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
in
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
,
but in May 2001, the Canadian
Species at Risk Act
The ''Species at Risk Act'' (SARA) (the ''Act'') is a piece of Canadian federal legislation which became law in Canada on December 12, 2002. It is designed to meet one of Canada's key commitments under the International Convention on Biological D ...
listed it as
extirpated
Local extinction, also known as extirpation, refers to a species (or other taxon) of plant or animal that ceases to exist in a chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere. Local extinctions are contrasted with global extinct ...
in Canada.
[''Crotalus horridus''](_blank)
a
Species at Risk Public Registry
Accessed 23 June 2008. A Canadian government sponsored recovery strategy is under study to support the reintroducing of this predator of many pests to its former Canadian habitat.
Many were present in some of the thick forest areas of central and southeastern
Iowa
Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to th ...
, mostly within the
Mississippi
Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...
,
Skunk,
Iowa
Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to th ...
, and
Des Moines River
The Des Moines River () is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the upper Midwestern United States that is approximately long from its farther headwaters.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe Na ...
valleys, in several places in these areas; bites from timber rattlesnakes have been widespread, especially in a localized area of
Geode State Park, in southeastern
Henry County, along Credit Island Park, in southern
Scott County, and in the forested areas of southern
Clinton County Clinton County may refer to:
*Counties named for George Clinton, first and third Governor of New York, and later the fourth Vice President of the United States:
**Clinton County, New York
** Clinton County, Ohio
*Counties named for DeWitt Clinton, ...
.
The museum at Amana Colony, Iowa, asserts that one founding family lost their firstborn, a daughter, at the age of three, due to a rattlesnake bite she received while playing on a woodpile in the 19th century.
In
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
, it is not heavily present west of
Chestnut Ridge, which is in the
Laurel Highlands, nor is it heavily present in the more urban areas of the southeastern corner of the state. Thus, its range does not include
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
and
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...
, the two largest cities in Pennsylvania.
In
New York, timber rattlesnakes are "extirpated at 26% of historically known dens, and nearly extirpated at another 5%". Brown (1984, 1988) suggested denning populations in New York have been reduced by 50 to 75% of their historical numbers.
''C. horridus'' is extirpated from
Michigan
Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...
,
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...
,
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
and
Rhode Island
Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area and the seventh-least populous, with slightly fewer than 1.1 million residents as of 2020, but it ...
, and is considered close to extirpation in New Hampshire.
In
Massachusetts
Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...
, the snakes are active from mid-May to mid-October.
Early settlers were afraid of the snake, as its population was widespread throughout the state. The town of
Westborough
Westborough is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,567 at the 2020 Census, in over 7,000 households. Incorporated in 1717, the town is governed under the New England open town meeting system, headed ...
paid 13 men two shillings per day to rid a local hill of snakes in 1680. The hill had so many rattlesnakes, it was named "Boston Hill" because the number of snakes killed rivaled the population of the young city of Boston. In
Milford, men would hunt the rattlesnakes between May and early June. According to
Adin Ballou, when he arrived in town in 1824 snakes were still abundant, by 1881 they were still reported in some areas of town. Since that time their habitat has been reduced to the
Blue Hills south of
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
,
the Berkshires
The Berkshires () are a highland geologic region located in the western parts of Massachusetts and northwest Connecticut. The term "Berkshires" is normally used by locals in reference to the portion of the Vermont-based Green Mountains that ex ...
in
Western Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts, known colloquially as “Western Mass,” is a region in Massachusetts, one of the six U.S. states that make up the New England region of the United States. Western Massachusetts has diverse topography; 22 colleges and u ...
, and parts of the
Connecticut River Valley
The Connecticut River is the longest river in the New England region of the United States, flowing roughly southward for through four states. It rises 300 yards (270 m) south of the U.S. border with Quebec, Canada, and discharges at Long Island ...
, notably in the area of the
Holyoke Range
The Holyoke Range or Mount Holyoke Range is a traprock mountain range located in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. It is a sub-range of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecti ...
.
The snake is so rare in the state that it is rarely encountered by people and is considered endangered, making it illegal to harass, kill, collect, or possess. In September 2021, a five-foot long timber rattlesnake was recorded on video on a trail in the Blue Hills Reservation.
Generally, this species is found in deciduous forests in rugged terrain. During the summer, gravid (pregnant) females seem to prefer open, rocky ledges where the temperatures are higher, while males and nongravid females tend to spend more time in cooler, denser woodland with more closed forest canopy.
[Timber Rattlesnake Fact Sheet](_blank)
a
NY State Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Accessed 8 February 2007.
Behavior
Female timber rattlers often bask in the sun before giving birth, in open rocky areas known as "basking knolls".
During the winter, timber rattlesnakes
brumate in dens and limestone crevices, often together with
copperheads and
black rat snake Black rat snake may refer to:
*'' Pantherophis alleghaniensis'', the eastern ratsnake
* '' Pantherophis spiloides'', the central ratsnake
*''Pantherophis obsoletus
''Pantherophis obsoletus'', also known commonly as the western rat snake, black ...
s.
Males often mate farther away from winter hibernacula than females.
A lifetime reproduction study of a population in the Adirondack Mountains of New York found that the first reproduction occurs at a mean age of 9.6 years. The mean length of reproductive cycles is 4.2 years, the mean reproductive life span is 9.6 years, and the average fecundity is 7.7 offspring per litter. Nonviable offspring were found in 20% of the field litters. Most females only reproduced one. Macrogeographic differences were observed within the population and may have correlated resource levels influencing growth rates and additionally human encounters could influence survival.
Feeding
Their prey are mainly small
mammals, but may include small
bird
Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweig ...
s,
frog
A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" ''Triadobatrachus'' is ...
s, and other small animals, including other snakes. Although capable of consuming other
rattlesnakes, the most common snake they prey upon are
garter snake
Garter snake is a common name for generally harmless, small to medium-sized snakes belonging to the genus ''Thamnophis'' in the family Colubridae. Native to North and Central America, species in the genus ''Thamnophis'' can be found from the ...
s.
Like most rattlesnakes, timber rattlesnakes are known to use chemical cues to find sites to ambush their prey and often strike their prey and track them until they can be consumed.
[ Reinert HK, Cundall D, Bushar LM (1984). "Foraging behavior of the timber rattlesnake, ''Crotalus horridus'' ". ''Copeia'' 1984: 976-981.] Timber rattlesnakes are known to use fallen logs as a waiting site for prey to pass by, giving them an elevated perch from which to effectively strike their prey, which is almost entirely terrestrial rather than arboreal (even arboreal prey such as squirrels tend to be caught when they come to the ground).
If the arboreal prey (squirrels) are in the trees, it was found that the snake might indicate vertical tree posture, meaning it leans up against a tree looking at the squirrel and waiting for it to come down. The primary foods by genera of timber rattlesnakes were as follows: ''
Peromyscus
''Peromyscus'' is a genus of rodents. They are commonly referred to as deer mice or deermice, not to be confused with the chevrotain or "mouse deer". They are New World mice only distantly related to the common house and laboratory mouse, ''Mu ...
'' (33.3%), ''
Microtus
''Microtus'' is a genus of voles found in North America, Europe and northern Asia. The genus name refers to the small ears of these animals. About 62 species are placed in the genus. They are stout rodents with short ears, legs and tails. They ea ...
'' (10.9%), ''
Tamias
''Tamias'' is a genus of chipmunks in the tribe Marmotini of the squirrel family. The genus includes a single living species, the eastern chipmunk (''Tamias striatus''). The genus name ''Tamias'' ( el, ταμίας) means "treasurer", "steward" ...
'' (qv) (10.6%), ''
Sylvilagus
Cottontail rabbits are the leporid species in the genus ''Sylvilagus'', found in the Americas. Most ''Sylvilagus'' species have stub tails with white undersides that show when they retreat, giving them their characteristic name. However, this ...
'' (10.4%), ''
Sigmodon'' (5.3%) and ''
Sciurus
The genus ''Sciurus'' contains most of the common, bushy-tailed squirrels in North America, Europe, temperate Asia, Central America and South America.
Species
The number of species in the genus is subject to change.
In 2005, Thorington & Hoff ...
'' (4.2%). Based on examination of the snout-to-vent length, juvenile timber rattlesnakes were found to differ slightly in dietary preferences from adult rattlesnakes, being more likely to consume smaller prey such as
shrew
Shrews (family Soricidae) are small mole-like mammals classified in the order Eulipotyphla. True shrews are not to be confused with treeshrews, otter shrews, elephant shrews, West Indies shrews, or marsupial shrews, which belong to differ ...
s (averaging and unable to attack subadult
eastern cottontail
The eastern cottontail (''Sylvilagus floridanus'') is a New World cottontail rabbit, a member of the family Leporidae. It is the most common rabbit species in North America.
Distribution
The eastern cottontail can be found in meadows and shrubb ...
rabbits (averaging but ''Peromyscus'' was the number one prey item for both young and adult rattlesnakes. Several birds, although always secondary to mammals, are also known to be hunted, mainly ground-dwelling species such as
bobwhite
''Colinus'' is a genus of birds in the New World quail
The New World quail are small birds only distantly related to the Old World quail, but named for their similar appearance and habits. The American species are in their own family, the O ...
s, but also a surprising number of
passerine
A passerine () is any bird of the order Passeriformes (; from Latin 'sparrow' and '-shaped'), which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds, passerines are distinguished from other orders of birds by th ...
s.
Venom
Potentially, this is one of North America's most dangerous snakes, due to its long fangs, impressive size, and high
venom
Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a st ...
yield. This is to some degree offset by its relatively mild disposition
[Norris R (2004). "Venom Poisoning in North American Reptiles". ''In'' Campbell JA, Lamar WW (2004). ''The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere''. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. 870 pp., 1,500 plates. .] and long brumation period. Before striking, they often perform a good deal of preliminary rattling and feinting.
[US Navy (1991). ''Poisonous Snakes of the World''. New York: US Government / Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. .] Cist (1845) described how he lived in western Pennsylvania for many years, and the species was quite common there, but in all that time, he heard of only a single death resulting from its bite.
Considerable geographic and
ontogenetic
Ontogeny (also ontogenesis) is the origination and development of an organism (both physical and psychological, e.g., moral development), usually from the time of fertilization of the egg to adult. The term can also be used to refer to the st ...
variation occurs regarding the toxicity of the venom, which can be said for many rattlesnake species. Four venom patterns have been described for this species: Type A is largely
neurotoxic
Neurotoxicity is a form of toxicity in which a biological, chemical, or physical agent produces an adverse effect on the structure or function of the central and/or peripheral nervous system. It occurs when exposure to a substance – specificall ...
, and is found in various parts of the southern range. One effect of the toxin can be generalized
myokymia
Myokymia is an involuntary, spontaneous, localized quivering of a few muscles, or bundles within a muscle, but which are insufficient to move a joint. One type is superior oblique myokymia.
Myokymia is commonly used to describe an involuntary eye ...
. Type B is
hemorrhagic
Bleeding, hemorrhage, haemorrhage or blood loss, is blood escaping from the circulatory system from damaged blood vessels. Bleeding can occur internally, or externally either through a natural opening such as the mouth, nose, ear, urethra, vag ...
and
proteolytic
Proteolysis is the breakdown of proteins into smaller polypeptides or amino acids. Uncatalysed, the hydrolysis of peptide bonds is extremely slow, taking hundreds of years. Proteolysis is typically catalysed by cellular enzymes called protease ...
, and is found consistently in the north and in parts of the southeast. Type A + B is found in areas where the aforementioned types apparently intergrade in southwestern
Arkansas
Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...
and northern
Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...
. Type C venom has none of the above components and is relatively weak.
The neurotoxic component of the type A venom is referred to as canebrake toxin, and is a
phospholipase A2. It is analogous to the neurotoxins found in the venoms of several other rattlesnake species, and when present, contributes significantly to the overall toxicity. Other components found in the venom include a small basic
peptide
Peptides (, ) are short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Long chains of amino acids are called proteins. Chains of fewer than twenty amino acids are called oligopeptides, and include dipeptides, tripeptides, and tetrapeptides.
...
that works as a
myotoxin
Myotoxins are small, basic peptides found in snake venoms (e.g. rattlesnakes) and lizard venoms (e.g. Mexican beaded lizard). This involves a non-enzymatic mechanism that leads to severe muscle necrosis. These peptides act very quickly, causing i ...
, a
fibrinogen-clotting
enzyme
Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products ...
that can produce
defibrination syndrome, and a
bradykinin
Bradykinin (BK) (Greek brady-, slow; -kinin, kīn(eîn) to move) is a peptide that promotes inflammation. It causes arterioles to dilate (enlarge) via the release of prostacyclin, nitric oxide, and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor and ...
-releasing enzyme.
CroFab antivenom
Antivenom, also known as antivenin, venom antiserum, and antivenom immunoglobulin, is a specific treatment for envenomation. It is composed of antibodies and used to treat certain venomous bites and stings. Antivenoms are recommended only if th ...
, while not specific for ''C. horridus'', is used to treat envenomations from this species.
Symbol
The timber rattlesnake was designated the
state reptile of West Virginia in 2008.
That state's legislature praised "...a proud contribution by the eighth grade class at
Romney Middle School Hampshire County Schools is the operating school district within Hampshire County, West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association ...
, from West Virginia's oldest county, in West Virginia's oldest town, to have been instrumental in making the timber rattlesnake the state reptile..."
This snake became a prominent symbol of American anger and resolve during the
American Revolution
The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revoluti ...
due to its fearsome reputation. In the 18th century, European-trained doctors and scientists had little firsthand experience with or information on timber rattlesnakes, and treatment of their bites was poorly effective. The motto ''
Nemo me impune lacesset'' (with the verb in the
future tense) appears above a ''Crotalus horridus'' on a 1778 $20 bill from
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
as an early example of the colonial use of the coiled rattlesnake symbol, which later became famous on the
Gadsden flag
The Gadsden flag is a historical American flag with a yellow field depicting a timber rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike. Beneath the rattlesnake are the words: " TREAD ON ME". Some modern versions of the flag include an apostrophe.
The f ...
.
Conservation status
This species is classified as least concern on the
IUCN Red List
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book, founded in 1964, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biol ...
(assessed in 2007).
[ Hammerson GA (2007)]
''Crotalus horridus''
In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. Species are listed as such due to their wide distribution, presumed large population, or because they are unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.
The timber rattlesnake is listed as endangered in New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia, Indiana,
New York, Illinois, and New Hampshire.
Timber rattlesnakes have already been extirpated in Maine and Rhode Island and only one population remains in New Hampshire. They are protected in many of the Appalachian states, but their populations continue to decline.
See also
*
Snakebite
A snakebite is an injury caused by the bite of a snake, especially a venomous snake. A common sign of a bite from a venomous snake is the presence of two puncture wounds from the animal's fangs. Sometimes venom injection from the bite may occu ...
References
[Goetz, S. M., Petersen, C. E., Rose, R. K., Kleopfer, J. D., & Savitzky, A. H. (2016). Diet and Foraging Behaviors of Timber Rattlesnakes, Crotalus horridus, in Eastern Virginia. Journal of Herpetology, 50(4), 520–526. https://doi.org/10.1670/15-086]
Further reading
*
Brown CW,
Ernst CH (1986). "A Study of Variation in Eastern Timber Rattlesnakes, ''Crotalus horridus'' Linnae (Serpentes, Viperidae)". ''Brimleyana'' 12: 57–74.
*
*Cist C (1845). ''The Cincinnati Miscellany or Antiquities of the West''. vol. 1. Cincinnati. 272 pp.
*
Collins JT,
Knight JL (1980). "''Crotalus horridus'' Linnaeus. Timber rattlesnake". ''Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles''. 253.1 – 253.2.
*
Conant R,
Bridges W (1939).''What Snake Is That? A Field Guide to the Snakes of the United States East of the Rocky Mountains''. (with 108 drawings by
Edmond Malnate). New York and London: D. Appleton-Century Company. Frontispiece map + viii + 163 pp. + Plates A-C, 1-32. (''Crotalus h. horridus'', pp. 149–151 + Plate 31, figures 88A & 89; ''C. h. atricaudatus'', pp. 151–152 + Plate 31, figures 88B & 88C).
*
Gloyd HK (1936). "The cane-brake rattlesnake". ''Copeia'' 1935 (4): 175–178.
*
Holt EG (1924). "Additional records for the Alabama herpetological catalogue". ''Copeia'' 1924: 100–101.
*
Hubbs B,
O'Connor B (2001). ''A Guide to Rattlesnakes and other Venomous Serpents of the United States''. Tempe, Arizona: Tricolor Books. 129 pp. . (''Crotalus horridus'', pp. 68–71).
*
Klauber LM (1936). "Key to the rattlesnakes with summary of characteristics". ''Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist.'' 8 (2): 185–176.
*Klauber LM (1956). ''Rattlesnakes: Their Habitats, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind''. 2 volumes. Berkeley: University of California Press. 1,476 pp.
*
Linnaeus C (1758). ''Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, diferentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata''
olume I, Tenth Edition, Revised Stockholm: L. Salvius. (''Crotalus horridus'', new species, p. 214). (in Latin).
*
McCoy CJ (1980). ''Identification Guide to Pennsylvania Snakes''. (Design and illustrations by Michael Antonoplos). Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History (abbreviated as CMNH) is a natural history museum in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Pittsburgh-based industrialist Andrew Carnegie in 1896.
Housing some 22 million ...
. 12 pp. (''Crotalus horridus'', pp. 10–11).
*
Morris PA (1948). ''Boy's Book of Snakes: How to Recognize and Understand Them''. (A volume of the Humanizing Science Series, edited by
Jaques Cattell Jaques (Jack) Cattell (2 June 1904 in Garrison, New York – 19 December 1961) was an American publisher and founder of a company bearing his name, "Jaques Cattell Press, Inc.," based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Jaques Cattell Press, Inc. The Sc ...
). New York: Ronald Press. viii + 185 pp. (''Crotalus h. horridus'', pp. 94–97, 181; ''C. h. atricaudatus'', pp. 98, 181).
*
Netting MG,
Richmond ND (editors) (1970). ''Pennsylvania Reptiles and Amphibians''. Third Edition, Fifth Printing. (Photographs by Hal H. Harrison). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Fish Commission. 24 pp. (''Crotalus horridus'', pp. 7–8 + front cover painting by Ned Smith).
*
Pisani GR, Collins JT,
Edwards SR (1972). "A re-evaluation of the subspecies of ''Crotalus horridus''. ''Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci.'' 75: 255–263.
*
Powell R,
Conant R, Collins JT (2016). ''Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition''. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 47 plates, 207 figures. . (''Crotalus horridus'', pp. 440–441 + Plate 46 + Figure 168 on p. 356).
*
Schmidt KP (1953). ''A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles, Sixth Edition''. Chicago: American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. 280 pp.
*
Smith HM,
Brodie ED Jr (1982). ''Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification''. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. (paperback), (hardcover). (''Crotalus horridus'', pp. 206–207).
External links
''Crotalus horridus''at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
*
Account of severe ''C. horridus'' envenomationa
venomousreptiles.org Accessed 12 December 2007.
a
Kingsnake.com Accessed 7 August 2007.
Timber rattlesnakeat Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa.
{{Taxonbar , from=Q1417249
horridus
Fauna of the Eastern United States
Reptiles described in 1758
Endemic fauna of the United States
Symbols of West Virginia
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus