Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Crotalus, Species: C. horridus
Eastern and central United States, from southern New Hampshire south to northern Florida, and west to eastern Texas and eastern Nebraska.
Look up Timber Rattlesnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Crotalus, Species: C. horridus
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern globally, though many state-level jurisdictions list the species as threatened, endangered, or protected due to habitat loss and human persecution.
Physical Description
Stout-bodied snake with distinct crossbands or chevron-shaped markings along the back, typically dark brown or black on a lighter yellowish, gray, or brown background. Possesses a wide, triangular head distinct from the neck, vertical pupils, heat-sensing facial pits, and a prominent rattle at the tail tip.
Size & Dimensions
Typical adult size ranges from 90 to 150 cm (35 to 60 inches), with exceptional specimens exceeding 180 cm. This specimen appears to be an adult of moderate length.
Habitat
Deciduous forests, rugged terrain with rocky outcroppings, river bluffs, and swamps. Elevation ranges from sea level to over 1,500 meters. Overwinters in communal subterranean dens (hibernacula) in rocky ledges.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily feeds on small mammals such as mice, voles, rats, squirrels, and occasionally birds. Uses an ambush hunting strategy, striking prey and waiting for it to succumb before swallowing it whole.
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous, giving birth to live young. Mating typically occurs in late summer or autumn, with females giving birth to litters of 5 to 15 young every 2 to 3 years due to high energetic demands.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern globally, though many state-level jurisdictions list the species as threatened, endangered, or protected due to habitat loss and human persecution.
Cultural Significance
Played a prominent role in American history and heraldry, most notably appearing on the Gadsden flag with the motto 'Don't Tread on Me'. Ecologically important for regulating rodent populations.
Notable Features
Known for possessing a complex rattle made of modified keratin scales at the tail tip used as a warning signal, along with specialized heat-sensing pits located between the eye and nostril to detect warm-blooded prey in total darkness.