Timber rattlesnake
The timber rattlesnake is a venomous snake native to the forested regions of the eastern United States, recognized by its distinctive yellow, gray, dark brown, or black skin adorned with dark V-shaped markings. Typically ranging from three to five feet in length, these snakes have a wide, triangular head and lack eyelids, instead possessing a protective covering known as brilles over their eyes. Timber rattlesnakes are equipped with heat-sensitive pits above their lips, which help them detect temperature differences and identify prey against their surroundings. They primarily feed on a carnivorous diet that includes small mammals, birds, and other snakes, using venomous bites to immobilize their prey.
Mating occurs between July and October, and females give birth to live young after a gestation period of approximately 135 days. While not universally endangered, timber rattlesnakes face threats in certain regions, leading to some classifications as endangered. They are generally not aggressive unless threatened, relying on their rattle as a warning signal to potential threats. Despite their fearsome reputation, they play an important role in their ecosystem and can live for at least 30 years in the wild.
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Timber rattlesnake
Timber rattlesnakes are called timber because they are often found in the forested areas of the eastern United States. These venomous, or poisonous, snakes are generally not aggressive toward people unless they are being threatened or attacked. When rattlesnakes sense danger they rattle their tails to warn their attackers of their presence.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Crotalus
Species: Horridus
Timber rattlesnakes have yellow, gray, dark brown or black skin with dark V-shaped markings along their backs. Their heads are wide and triangular and usually do not have any patterns on them. Timber rattlesnakes have two small holes above their lips called pits. Pits are heat-sensitive organs which identify highly sensitive temperatures called infrared heat rays. It is helpful for snakes to be able to identify these rays in that it helps them recognize the difference between an animal and its background. Timber rattlesnakes also have vertically elliptical pupils. Pupils are the black areas in the centers of the irises, or colored portions of eyes. Vertically elliptical pupils run up and down like cats' pupils. People have round pupils. Like other snakes, timber rattlesnakes do not have eyelids. Instead of eyelids, timber rattlesnakes have brilles. Brilles are transparent, or clear, coverings that rest over their eyes like windowpanes. Timber rattlesnakes generally grow to a length of between three and five feet (one and 1 1/2 meters), but sometimes they grow to be up to about six feet (two meters) long.
Like all rattlesnakes, timber rattlesnakes have folds of dead skin hooked to the ends of their tails in the form of a linked rattle. These folds are created as the rattlesnakes shed their skin.
Timber rattlesnakes live on the rocky, forested hillsides and in dense, thick forest undergrowth in the United States. As they slither and slide through the grassy, rocky undergrowth, they frequently flick their forked tongues to search their environment. This is especially useful because snakes can pick up chemical signals on their tongues. They take these signals back inside their mouths and place them in organs especially designed to measure which chemicals are present. This information helps the snakes trail prey, recognize predators, and find mates.
Timber rattlesnakes are carnivorous, or meat-eating, snakes. They survive on a diet of mice, rats, chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, shrews, moles, weasels, birds, insects, frogs, toads, and other snakes. Timber rattlesnakes kill their prey by a venomous, or poisonous, bite from their venom-filled front fangs. Their venom is held in their venom glands in their cheeks and pours into their hollow fangs as they strike their prey. Like other snakes, timber rattlesnakes swallow their prey whole.
Mating season for timber rattlesnakes takes place from July to October. Timber rattlesnakes are viviparous. This means they give birth to live young. The females have a gestation period (duration of pregnancy) of about 135 days. The females usually give birth to between one and 20 young, but usually average around 10. Female timber rattlesnakes usually give birth every two to three years.
Coyotes, bobcats, skunks, foxes, hawks, larger snakes, and owls may prey on the timber rattlesnake. Timber rattlesnakes have a life span of at least 30 years and may live longer in captivity. Although the timber rattlesnake is not an overall threatened species, in some states in the United States it is classified as endangered.
Bibliography
Smithsonian Institution. “Timber Rattlesnake - Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.” National Zoo, nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/timber-rattlesnake. Accessed 21 Apr. 2024.
“Timber Rattlesnake – Florida Snake ID Guide.” Florida Museum, 23 Sept. 2022, www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-snake-id/snake/timber-rattlesnake. Accessed 21 Apr. 2024.