Rattlesnake; Neonate; 'Newborn' - File #19

How to Identify Baby Rattlesnakes North America is home to only four species of venomous snakes: copperheads, cottonmouths, coral snakes and rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes, which inhabit the warmer parts of North and South America, have an iconic appearance and behavior that makes them easy to spot, but identifying a young member of one of the 33 existent species isn&as straightforward. Baby rattlesnakes are just as dangerous as adults, and identifying one can be a matter of personal safety Pit Viper Characteristics Rattlesnakes are pit vipers, which means that they have two well-defined pits located under their nostrils, which allows them to sense heat and hunt warm-blooded prey even in the dark. These pits are discernible on baby rattlers as well as adults. Another distinguishing feature of rattlesnakes -- and pit vipers in general -- is a large, triangular head that tapers quickly into a neck that is narrower than the rest of the body. Although their bodies are not as large as those of adults, young rattlesnakes have the same head-to-body proportions as adults. The Rattles A rattlesnake&most distinguishing feature is its rattles, which are a series of interlocking rings on its tail. When the snake is in a defensive posture, it shakes its tail, causing these rings to rub against one another and produce the distinctive warning rattle. The snake produces one of these rings each time it molts, so young snakes have fewer of them, and babies have only a "button." When a...