9 Of The Incredible Rattlesnake Facts

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Rattlesnake Rattles Are Made From KeratinThe eponymous "rattles" at the conclusion of snake stories are a well-known feature of these animals.

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They Add a Rattle Segment Each Time They ShedEvery time a rattlesnake sheds its old skin and grows new ones, their bodies instinctively add a new segment to their rattles.

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There Are More Species in Arizona Than Anywhere ElseThere are between 32 and 45 species of rattlesnakes known to science, and many of them are found in Arizona.

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They Hear by Sensing VibrationsRattlesnakes are incapable of identifying sounds in the air because, like other snakes, they lack an eardrum in their inner ear structure.

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Deadly Rattlesnake Bites Are RareMany of us have been raised to fear rattlesnakes because, well, they hiss, rattle, and will bite if they are provoked further.

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Their Fangs Have HingesRattlesnakes have particularly large fangs because they are solenoglyphous snakes that are a member of the viper family.

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Rattlesnake Eyes Have Vertical PupilsRattlesnakes, in contrast to grass snakes, have eyes with vertical pupils that resemble cat's eyes.

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Females Have Live BirthsSince they are ovoviviparous, rattlesnakes do not lay eggs. Instead, before giving birth to live offspring, female rattlesnakes carry and incubate their egg

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Their Facial Pits Sense HeatThis is partially because rattlesnakes can see tiny prey even in total darkness thanks to heat-sensitive holes on either side of their heads.