In the wild Timber rattlesnakes can live as long as 30 years, which is high for their species. A timber rattlesnake bite is a medical emergency. Found primarily in the eastern United States, the timber rattlesnake(Crotalus horridus) is a common sight in woodland areas that stretch from Minnesota to New Hampshire. Dorsal scales are heavily keeled and scales under the tail are not divided as in most non-venomous snakes. Meanwhile, there are anywhere from 30 to 60 species in the genus Crotalus, depending on who you ask. Scientists once considered the Ornithocheirus an ancestor to modern birds. Loose sections of the tail made of keratin (the same substance as human hair and fingernails) form the characteristic rattles or "buttons" at the tip ofthe timber rattlesnake's tail. The motto Nemo me impune lacesset (with the verb in the future tense) appears above a Crotalus horridus on a 1778 $20 bill from Georgia as an early example of the colonial use of the coiled rattlesnake symbol, which later became famous on the Gadsden flag. Its a topic that is worth exploring. The timber rattlesnake is one of 36 species in the genus Crotalus. Although capable of consuming other rattlesnakes, the most common snake they prey upon are garter snakes. This species has the largest range of any rattlesnake and can be found from New England south to Florida, on the eastern coast of the United States, and west from Minnesota to Texas. #google_translate_element2 {display:none!important;} Timber rattlesnake The background color of timber rattlesnakes can vary from brown to gray. They live in mountainous or hilly forests, swamps, wetlands, river floodplains, lowland cane thickets, and fields. [13], Dorsally, they have a pattern of dark brown or black crossbands on a yellowish-brown or grayish background. The mean length of reproductive cycles is 4.2 years, the mean reproductive life span is 9.6 years, and the average fecundity is 7.7 offspring per litter. Lets find out where each lives, who grows to a larger size, and what other features make these rattling reptiles unique. The general rule is that Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes have a banding on the tail in a roughly 1:1 ratio of white to black, while Mojave Rattlesnakes tend to have tail banding at 2:1 white to black. The Santa Catalina rattlesnake is currently listed as critically endangeredand its population is declining. There are two recognized subspecies of the prairie rattlesnake: the nominate subspecies, Crotalus viridis viridis, and the Hopi rattlesnake(Crotalus viridis nuntius). Clark RW (2002). Dont assume it is a venomous species, and dont attack it if it doesnt pose a threat to your safety. The ventral scales number 158177 in males and 163183 in females. Keep reading! However, the timber rattlesnake is more docile than other vipers and would prefer to stay coiled or stretched out and motionless when encountered. [24] One hundred and fifteen rattlesnakes have been marked within Brown County State Park in Indiana, one of the few places where they can be found in the state. Sexual maturity is not reached until at least the fourth year of life, and in many individuals, 6 7 years may be required. These snakesare largely terrestrial but are amazing climbers and have been found in trees at heights of more than 80 feet. The timber rattlesnake has keeled scales, which feature a ridge down the center instead of being smooth. The number of prefoveal scales varies between two and eight. Select LanguageAfrikaansAlbanianArabicArmenianAzerbaijaniBasqueBelarusianBulgarianCatalanChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)CroatianCzechDanishDutchEnglishEstonianFilipinoFinnishFrenchGalicianGeorgianGermanGreekHaitian CreoleHebrewHindiHungarianIcelandicIndonesianIrishItalianJapaneseKoreanLatvianLithuanianMacedonianMalayMalteseNorwegianPersianPolishPortugueseRomanianRussianSerbianSlovakSlovenianSpanishSwahiliSwedishThaiTurkishUkrainianUrduVietnameseWelshYiddish, Outdoor Store to purchase "A Field Guide to Oklahoma's Amphibians and Reptiles", Wildlife Commissioners Learn Deer Harvest on Record Pace, Happy Holidays Ahead: Antlerless Deer Gun Season Opens Dec. 18, Waterfowl Hunting Season Second Half Opens Saturday. Snake Quiz - 42,578 People Couldn't Ace This Quiz, Watch A Hawk Turn From Predator to Prey In an Instant After Hunting A Snake. Bites need immediate medical treatment, but human deaths are rare since antivenom is widely available. They strike fear in the hearts of many, and are a animal many have nightmares about. The foot-long baby rattlers are born encased within a membrane that they immediately shed. The crossbands have irregular zig-zag edges, and may be V- or M-shaped. Timber rattlesnakes are viviparous, meaning they give birth to live young. [CDATA[/* >