Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake

Facts about Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes. "Scientific name for is Sistrurus catenatus". catenatus and it is a poisonous snake that comes from the genus Sistrurus of the Viperidae family. The fear of snakes is ophiophobia. The Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes are native to the United States, and they are called by other common names, such as the Black Rattler and the Black Massasauga. The Eastern massasauga rattlesnake are largely found in North America, ranging from Ontario in Canada and the western parts of the New York State, the southwestern to southeastern parts of Arizona and the northern parts of Tamaulipas in Mexico. The snake usually lives in a variety of habitats, varying from marshes and swamps to grasslands, generally below 1500 meters above sea level.

Features of Eastern massasauga rattlesnake

The Massasauga Rattlesnake is a small size snake and the adults have the body length, ranging from 18 inches to 30 inches (45 to 76 cm). The color pattern of the body of the Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes consists of a grey or chocolate brown ground color with a line of big rounded black or brown color spots or blotches along the center of the rear and three smaller strips of irregular spots down every side. The Eastern massasauga rattlesnake have a black-colored belly, with fragmented rattles on the end of their tail. The head of this snake is triangular in shape and the vertical pupils in their eyes resemble that of a cat. Their neck is narrow, which contrasts with their broad head.

The juvenile Massasauga Rattlesnake is well-patterned, and they have a paler body than the adult snakes. The adult snakes have heat-sensing pits on both sides of their head, with the kneeled scales and their anal scale is solitary.

Massasauga rattlesnakes can be seen all through the Lower Peninsula, but they cannot be found in the Upper Peninsula. The Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes are becoming uncommon in several parts of their previous range, all through the Great Lakes region, owing to wetland home loss and harassment by humans.

Diet of Eastern massasauga rattlesnake

The Massasauga Rattlesnake mostly feeds on a range of small vertebrates, as well as lizards, mammals and other snakes, including invertebrates, like centipedes. The Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes feed on frogs, reptiles and mammals as their bulk diet. Adult snakes feed mostly on rodents, whereas juvenile snakes generally feed on reptiles.

Behavior of Eastern massasauga rattlesnake

The Massasauga Rattlesnake can be exemplified as a shy, lethargic snake. They usually avoid conflict with humans, and they prefer to leave the area when they are endangered. These snakes do not bite and they will defend themselves from anything that comes into their view as a prospective predator. The Eastern massasauga rattlesnake have short fangs, which can puncture the skin easily and they have strong venom. It is always better to treat these snakes with respect and leave them unaccompanied. The Massasauga Rattlesnake is the smallest when compared to other rattlesnakes in the United States and it has the smallest amount of toxic venom.

Breeding of Eastern massasauga rattlesnake

The female Massasauga Rattlesnake is ovoviviparous and it offers birth to 8 to 20 live juvenile snakes in late summer. The little snakes have a single fasten on their tails, and a new rattle part is included at each shedding of their skin, which takes place several times in a year.

The average lifespan of the Massasauga Rattlesnake is 18 years in the wild, whereas in the captive, they can live up to 20 years.