What is Massasauga Rattlesnake?
Massasauga Rattlesnake, or sistrurus catenatus , is a member of the Viper family. Eastern, western and desert subspecies live in prairies, forests, marshes and pastures in parts of Canada, the United States and Mexico. They use their pits sensitive to heat and tongues to search for prey, which includes small rodents, amphibians, other reptiles and birds. Females give birth to live children and leave shortly after. Although their bites can be poison, snakes are shy and attack only after threat.
wetlands, including swamps and floodplain flooding, and meadows serve as the main stations of Eastern Rip in cold weather. During the summer they move into dry forests at higher altitudes. Their series includes southern Canada and the Eastern and Central US. Western and desert subspecies live in prairies and pastures, especially in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and Colorado.
East Massauga Rattlesnake is a subspecies, measurements up to 30 inches (76 cm) in length. Western subspecies have an average length of 26 inches(66 cm), while desert subspecies usually reach a length of 21 inches (53 cm). All subspecies have a triangular head, pits near their nostril and rattle at the tip of the tail. East Massasauga Rattlesnake has the darkest color, from gray to brown with black marks along the back. Western and desert subspecies are lighter brown or burnt with white belly.
Thermally sensitive pits in the head of the rattlesnake help find in the dark thermally hematopoietic prey, while its tongue lifts the particles of the smell from other animals in the air. A quick blow with his fang brings enough poison to kill, mice, frogs, lizards, birds and other snakes that feed on. The fang is then folded flat on the roof of the snake mouth.
In the case, Massauga Rattlesnakes go to the semi -discharge state called Brumions. They are looking for shelter in the burrows or slots in small groups or separately and appear in the spring for the mating season. PThe mating will cause male leaves and women in it for two to four months eggs. During this time, she lives from fat reserves instead of hunting to reduce the risk of being caught by predators.
Massasauga rattlesnake uses sunlight to accelerate pregnancy. The eggs hatch inside a woman who then give birth to light -colored children measuring around 9 inches (23 cm) in length. The woman does not stay with her young people to raise them.
The destruction of the habitat has led to a decline in the populations of Massasauga Rattlesnake to most of their extent. They are listed as endangered in Canada and considered endangered or endangered in many countries in which they are located. Although people are worried about their poisonous bite, snakes benefit their environment by reducing rodents' populations.