Rattlesnake
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
VenomousCrotalus adamanteus
6 photographs of the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake. © Daniel Estabrooks.
The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 4 countries.
If you are bitten
Rattlesnake bites are medically serious. Expect intense pain, rapid swelling, and bruising. Stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to an emergency room immediately. Do NOT apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or 911 in the US, or your local emergency number. (Source: CDC.)
- Also called
- Rattlesnake
- Family
- Viperidae
- Size
- Typically 2–5 ft; some species exceed 6 ft.
- Habitat
- Deserts, rocky outcrops, grasslands, and woodland edges, depending on species.
- Behavior
- Ambush predators that buzz the tail as a warning; mostly active in warm months and often crepuscular in summer heat.
- Identify
- Heavy body, broad triangular head, vertical (cat-like) pupils, and a segmented keratin rattle at the tail tip.
- Danger
- high
About the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
The eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) is a species of pit viper in the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to the Southeastern United States. It is the largest rattlesnake species and one of the heaviest venomous snakes in the Americas. No subspecies are recognized.
Description
The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest rattlesnake species and is one of the heaviest known species of venomous snake, with one specimen shot in 1946 measuring 2.4 m (7.8 ft) in length and weighing 15.4 kg (34 lb). However, other venomous snakes may rival this species in weight such as the much longer but more slender king cobra and the shorter but even bulkier Gaboon viper. Maximum reported lengths for the eastern diamondback rattlesnake are 2.4 m (8 ft) and 2.5 m (8.25 ft). However, the stated maximum sizes have been called into question due to a lack of voucher specimens. Demonstrating rare reverse sexual size dimorphism, males are typically larger than females.
Specimens over 2.1 m (7 ft) are rare, but well documented. Klauber (1998) included a letter he received from E. Ross Allen in 1953, in which Allen explains how for years he offered a reward of $100, and later $200, for an 2.4 m (8 ft) specimen, dead or alive. The reward was never claimed. He did receive a number of 2.1 m (7 ft) range specimens and some 2.4 m (8 ft) skins, but said such skins can be taken from specimens as short as 1.8 m (6 ft). A 2.2 m (7.3 ft) specimen was caught and killed outside a neighborhood in St. Augustine, Florida in September 2009.
The average size is much less. Specimens are rarely found over 6 feet in length. Lengths of 1.1 to 1.7 m (3.5 to 5.5 ft), and 0.8 to 1.8 m (2.75 to 6 ft) are given. One study found an average length of 1.7 m (5.6 ft) based on 31 males and 43 females. The average body mass is roughly 2.3 kg (5.1 lb). The average weight of 9 laboratory-kept specimens was 2.55 kg (5.6 lb), with a range of 0.8 to 4.9 kg (1.8 to 10.8 lb). Few specimens can exceed 5.12 kg (11.3 lb), although exceptional specimens can weigh 6.7 kg (15 lb) or more.
The scalation includes 25–31 (usually 29) rows of dorsal scales at midbody, 165–176/170–187 ventral scales in males/females and 27–33/20–26 subcaudal scales in males/females, respectively. On the head, the rostral scale is higher than it is wide and contacts two internasal scales. There are 10–21 scales in the internasal-prefrontal region and 5–11 (usually 7–8) intersupraocular scales. Usually, there are two loreal scales between preoculars and the postnasal. There are 12–17 (usually 14–15) supralabial scales, the first of which is in broad contact with the prenasal, and 15–21 (usually 17–18) sublabial scales.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
- Is the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake venomous?
- Yes. The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) is venomous and belongs to the Viperidae family (rattlesnake). Its bite is considered high risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.
- Is the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake dangerous?
- Rattlesnake bites are medically serious. Expect intense pain, rapid swelling, and bruising. Stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to an emergency room immediately. Do NOT apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or 911 in the US, or your local emergency number. (Source: CDC.)
- Where does the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake live?
- The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake has verified records in 4 countries, including United States of America, Mexico, Argentina. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake?
- Heavy body, broad triangular head, vertical (cat-like) pupils, and a segmented keratin rattle at the tail tip.
- How big does the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake get?
- Typically 2–5 ft; some species exceed 6 ft.
- What does the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake eat?
- The eastern diamondback rattlesnake forages actively or lies in ambush for small mammals, especially rabbits and rice rats (Ory
- Why is it called the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake?
- Other common names for this snake species include eastern diamond-backed rattlesnake, eastern diamondback, diamond rattlesnake, diamond-back rattlesnake, common rattlesnake, diamond-back, diamond(-patch) rattler, eastern diamond-back (rattlesnake), eastern diamond rattlesnake, Florida diamond-back (rattlesnake), Florida rattlesnake, lozenge-spotted rattlesnake, rattler, rattlesnake, southeastern diamond-backed rattlesnake, southeastern diamond-backed rattler, southern woodland rattler, timber rattler, water rattle, water rattlesnake, and diamondback rattlesnake.
If you are bitten by the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
Do
- Get away from the snake and stay calm. Most bites worsen when people panic or try again to handle the snake.
- Call 911 or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away. Antivenom works best when given early.
- Note the time of the bite and, from a safe distance, the snake's color and pattern, a phone photo is enough. Do not chase it.
- Keep the bitten limb still and at roughly heart level. Sit or lie down and limit movement.
- Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
- Gently wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.
Do not
- Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom.
- Do not apply a tourniquet or ice.
- Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.
- Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, they can worsen bleeding. Acetaminophen is safer for pain.
- Do not try to catch or kill the snake. A dead snake can still bite by reflex.
First-aid guidance adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC NIOSH), Venomous Snakes. Educational only; always follow the instructions of emergency responders.
Where it is found
By U.S. state
Snakes it is confused with
Gopher SnakeHarmlessRattlesnakes are sometimes confused with harmless gophersnakes/bullsnakes; only rattlesnakes have a true segmented rattle and a facial pit.
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake vs Gopher Snake→
More Viperidae snakes
Western RattlesnakeCrotalus oreganus
Western Diamond-backed RattlesnakeCrotalus atrox
Timber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus
Prairie RattlesnakeCrotalus viridis
Red Diamond RattlesnakeCrotalus ruber
Mojave RattlesnakeCrotalus scutulatus
Western Black-tailed RattlesnakeCrotalus molossus
SidewinderCrotalus cerastes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
Keep learning
- Are Snakes Dangerous? The Real Risk, in PerspectiveMost snakes are harmless and avoid people. Here is the honest picture of snakebite risk worldwide and how to lower your own.
- Snakebite First Aid: What to Do (and What Never to Do)A clear, CDC-based guide to snakebite first aid: the steps that help, the popular myths that hurt, and how to tell a serious bite from a minor one.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.