Rattlesnakes By Nathan Argiro

Patterns on rattlesnakes often help to hide them, by making them look like the ground they are lying on.

Side winding is a way of moving that is used by only a few types of rattlesnakes that live in the desert. These snakes are called sidewinders. By side winding, they can move quickly over the sand.

The rattle at the end of the tail is used to give a warning – “Go away or I might bite you!” Every time a rattlesnake sheds its skin it adds a new section to its rattle.

Using their heat sensing pits rattlesnakes can find the exact location of prey in the dark. Yummy.

The venom is made by special glands inside a rattlesnake’s head, and is injected into prey through hollow fangs. The snakes can control how much venom they put in the prey. They usually put enough venom to kill the prey quickly.

When a rattlesnake eats its prey, the prey is often too big for the snake to eat. Snakes can unhinge their jaws, stretching them very wide so the prey can fit into its mouth.

Resources Zoobooks, “Rattlesnakes,” August 1989, Volume 6, Number 11. I’m hungry. Where’s my mouse? Nice to eat you mouse. Bye.