Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake native to North America, found in the pine forests, scrublands and coastal areas of the southeastern United States, with large individuals capable of exceeding two metres in length. It has a heavy body patterned with dark, diamond-shaped blotches outlined in cream or yellow along its back, and, like all rattlesnakes, a segmented rattle at the tip of its tail made of interlocking sections of keratin that it vibrates rapidly to produce a warning buzz when threatened. The species delivers a highly potent venom through long, hinged fangs to subdue prey such as rabbits, squirrels and other small mammals, striking quickly before releasing the animal and tracking it by scent once the venom takes effect. Once common across much of the southeastern United States, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake has declined sharply due to habitat loss, road mortality and deliberate killing, and it is now considered vulnerable, with several states affording it legal protection.