Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Crotalus, Species: Crotalus horridus
Eastern and central United States, extending from southern New Hampshire southward to northern Florida, and westward to eastern Texas and eastern Minnesota.
Look up Timber Rattlesnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Crotalus, Species: Crotalus horridus
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, though many regional populations face threats from habitat fragmentation, deliberate killing, and overcollection for the pet trade.
Physical Description
Heavy-bodied snake with a distinctively wide triangular head. Background coloration ranges from gray to yellowish-brown or pinkish, marked with dark brown or black crossbands or chevron-shaped markings down the back. Scales are heavily keeled.
Size & Dimensions
Specimen is coiled compactly, estimated around 90-120 cm. Typical adult size ranges from 90 to 152 cm, with exceptionally large individuals reaching up to 189 cm.
Habitat
Deciduous forests, rugged terrain, rocky hillsides, limestone bluffs, and swamps. Utilizes underground dens and fissures in rock outcrops for overwintering.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily feeds on small mammals such as mice, voles, rats, squirrels, and occasionally birds. Employs a sit-and-wait ambush hunting strategy.
Reproduction
Viviparous (live-bearing), giving birth to litters averaging 5 to 14 young, typically in late summer or early autumn. Females reproduce every 2 to 3 years due to the energetic costs of gestation.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, though many regional populations face threats from habitat fragmentation, deliberate killing, and overcollection for the pet trade.
Cultural Significance
Historically featured on the Gadsden flag ('Don't Tread on Me') as a symbol of American independence and unity. Plays a crucial role in regulating rodent populations.
Notable Features
Features heat-sensing pits located between the eye and nostril to detect warm-blooded prey, vertical elliptical pupils, and a prominent caudal rattle used for acoustic warning.