Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Crotalus, Species: Crotalus horridus
Eastern and central United States, from southern New Hampshire to northern Florida, and west to eastern Texas and southeastern Nebraska.
Look up Timber Rattlesnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Venomous (Solenoglyphous - possui long, folding fangs in the front of the mouth).
Danger Level
Extremely Dangerous - bite is a medical emergency; high venom yield and toxicity make it one of North America's most dangerous snakes if medical treatment is delayed.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Crotalus, Species: Crotalus horridus
Conservation
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN, but state-level status varies significantly; it is endangered or threatened in many Northeastern states due to habitat loss and persecution.
Physical Description
Heavy-bodied snake with a broad, triangular head and vertical pupils. Features dark brown or black crossbands or chevrons on a gray, tan, or yellowish-brown ground color. The tail is typically black and capped with a keratinous rattle.
Size & Dimensions
Average adult length is 91 to 152 cm (36 to 60 inches); maximum recorded length is approximately 189 cm (74.5 inches). The specimen in the image appears to be a large adult.
Habitat
Deciduous forests with rugged terrain, rocky outcrops, and south-facing ledges used for basking and hibernation (hibernacula) from sea level to over 1,800 meters.
Behavior & Temperament
Generally docile and shy, preferring to remain motionless and rely on camouflage. If threatened, it will rattle its tail and strike. Primarily diurnal in spring/fall and nocturnal during hot summer months.
Diet & Feeding
Active forager and ambush predator primarily targeting small mammals (squirrels, chipmunks, mice), but will also consume birds and occasionally other snakes.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives birth to live young); females breed every 2-6 years depending on local resources, producing litters of 5 to 20 neonates in late summer.
Venom Profile
Highly complex; primarily hemotoxic and cytotoxic causing localized tissue damage and hemorrhaging, though some populations (Type B) possess neurotoxic components.
Look-alikes
Commonly confused with the Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) which has Hershey-kiss patterns, or the non-venomous Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon) which lacks a rattle and pit organs.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN, but state-level status varies significantly; it is endangered or threatened in many Northeastern states due to habitat loss and persecution.
Cultural Significance
Iconic in American history as the symbol of the 'Join, or Die' cartoon and the Gadsden Flag ('Don't Tread on Me'); also holds spiritual significance in various Native American cultures.
Notable Features
Features heat-sensing pit organs between the eye and nostril and a complex rattle utilized as an aposematic warning system to deter potential predators.