The Ridged-Nosed Rattlesnake
by Nick V.
Did you know that the Ridged Nosed Rattlesnake is one of the rarest, poisonous snakes in the world? This animal does hibernate but only for about 5 weeks. If people keep collecting or destroying their habitat this rattlesnake might become extinct.
The Ridged Nosed Rattlesnake got its name from its scales that go up its body to in between its nostrils. There scales are reddish brown. Its face has white lines on a dark back round. These reptiles are very slim and very swift at attacking prey. These small poisonous snakes are about 7 to 8 inches at birth and 16 to 20 inches at age 3 with a maximum length of 22 to 26 inches. They usually weigh about 20 pounds when they are fully grown.
Pregnant rattlesnakes have their young in hot and humid weather. Normally in the late summer months. During this time they don’t eat much. They spend most of their time basking in the sun. After the females give birth to their young, in a couple days their young will have to hunt on their own. The young rattlesnakes normally hunt small lizards. At the age of 4 they begin to hunt larger lizards, centipedes, mice, small mammals and nesting birds. Rattlesnakes are camouflaged by the dirt because of their skin color. They kill their prey by ejecting venom from its fangs into the animal’s blood. A little later the animal would die. These animals may seem harmless while basking in the sun but they attack swiftly so their prey can’t escape.
Normally Ridged-Nosed Rattlesnakes live in or near Arizona. It is known from Huachuca, Santa Rita, Conelo, Patagon and Whetstone ranges. Few live in Madrean Evergreen Woodland and Petran Montane Conifer Forest Communities. They are mainly found in or near drainages with abundant canopy cover and leaf litter. They spend most of their time in the woods resting on dry leaves. Very few live by canyons with sparse vegetation.
Sadly the Ridged-Nosed Rattlesnake is endangered. An endangered animal is one whose population is decreasing and soon that animal may become extinct. The Ridged-Nosed Rattlesnake is endangered by man itself. They are destroying their habitat by woodcutting, mining and recreational development. Also many collectors of rare, poisonous snakes capture and sell them. Without a male and a female the female can’t reproduce. Man is trying to help this rare, poisonous reptile by passing laws that make it illegal to destroy their habitat and not allowing man to collect or sell them. As you can see this rare poisonous reptile is endangered. If we don’t help these snakes they may become extinct.
So if you care about this rare rattlesnake you might be able to help it. It is mans responsibility to keep this reptile from becoming extinct.