Diamond Back Rattle Snakes

Diamondback rattlesnakes are super famous because of the loud buzzing sound they make with the rattles on their tails. These rattles are actually made of keratin, which is the same stuff as your fingernails, and they add a new piece every time they shed their skin. They get their name from the cool diamond patterns on their backs that help them hide in the dirt or grass while they wait for a snack to walk by. They are known as pit vipers because they have special holes on their faces that work like heat-sensing cameras to find warm-blooded prey even in the dark. While they have sharp fangs and dangerous venom to hunt things like mice and rabbits, they usually try to stay away from people and only rattle to say back off. It is also really cool that there are two main types, the eastern and the western diamondback. The eastern one is actually the largest rattlesnake in the world and can grow up to eight feet long. Western ones are a bit smaller but are super tough and live in dry deserts. Even though people are often scared of them, they are actually really important for the environment because they keep the rodent population from getting out of control. They are not mean or aggressive on purpose; they just want to be left alone. If you ever see one, you should just stay calm and give it plenty of space. Another weird thing is that baby rattlesnakes are born live instead of in eggs, and they are born with only one little segment on their tail called a button. They cannot even make a rattling sound until they shed their skin for the first time and get a second piece! During the winter, these snakes often hang out in underground dens called hibernacula to stay warm. They basically just nap all winter until it gets sunny again. Scientists even use their venom to make medicine that helps people with heart problems, so they are actually kind of helpful to humans too.