Alternate Name(s):

Venom Status:

Venomous

Characteristics:

Often called the “ground rattler.” This small (16-26 inches) rather slender rattlesnake may be tan or gray to lavender, pinkish, and red. There is a busy pattern of darker dorsal blotches, lateral spotting and variable dark stippling. Tail slender. Scales keeled. Rattle tiny and hard to hear. If approached it often twitches its head nervously and will strike with little provocation. Note the vertical pupils and infrared sensing pit between, but lower than, the nostril and eye. This, like all rattlesnakes, is ovoviviparous, producing live young in a membranous sac from which the babies soon break free. Juveniles have yellow tailtip that they twitch as a lure to draw inquisitive lizards and frogs within striking range.

Unique Features:

Elliptical pupils, temperature sensory pit, and rattle. Also use range maps.

Habitat and Diet:

Southern pine-palmetto flatwoods, edge situations, marsh edge or pond edge. Often, to its detriment, basks on paved roads. Primarily feeds on Lizards, snakes and their eggs and occasionally small rodents.

Geographic Range:

GA, SC, AL, NC