4 THE ALARMING RATTLESNAKE On a grassland a long snake lies hidden under a gray rock This hunter is on the lookout for something to eat A mouse darts in front of the snake and with a quick snap of its head the snake strikes sinking its teeth into the small mammal Gulp The mouse is eaten whole Meet the rattlesnake a clever and deadly predator that lives throughout North America They are best known for the rattle on the tip of their tail
Rattlesnakes are known for their rattle and their venomous bite This means they can produce a liquid called venom that is harmful to other animals 5
6 Most rattlesnakes are a gray or light brown color But there are some rattlesnakes that are orange pink red or green
SPY THE RATTLESNAKE Adult rattlesnakes come in a wide range of lengths They can be as short as 1 foot 0.3 m or as long as 8 feet 2.4 m The heaviest rattlesnake in the world is the eastern diamondback rattlesnake This snake can weigh up to 10 pounds 4.5 kg Rattlesnakes have a triangle shaped head The different patterns on their skin help them blend in with their habitat Western diamondback rattlesnakes and eastern diamondback rattlesnakes both have a diamond pattern on their skin FATAL FACTS There are over 30 species or kinds of rattlesnake You can tell them apart by their different sizes colors and patterns However they all have a rattle on the tip of their tail 1
