A Detailed Explanation of the Rattlesnake's Habits and the Function of Its Tail
The rattlesnake is a venomous species among snakes, and it gets its name because its tail makes a loud sound. The rattlesnake's venom is enough to kill a person, and even after it has been beaten to death it can still strike back; they will even bounce up and bite you, which is truly terrifying. Let's take a look below at what the rattlesnake's habits are and what function its tail serves.
1. What are the rattlesnake's habits?
1. The rattlesnake's diet
Rattlesnakes generally eat rodents and other relatively small animals, such as rabbits, moles and so on. Once the rattlesnake's toxin is injected into the prey's body, the prey immediately feels paralyzed or simply dies. If any prey escapes, they will secretly follow it until they have a chance to attack it. A rattlesnake's strike distance can reach about two-thirds of its body length. It is worth noting that rattlesnakes already have the fangs for injecting venom at birth, and they can control the amount injected.
2. Characteristics of the rattlesnake
Different species of rattlesnake differ greatly in body size, markings, temperament, territory and other respects. Rattlesnakes generally do not bite people on their own initiative; they strike back and bite when they are startled or threatened.
If you see a rattlesnake lying in the middle of the road enjoying a sunbath, you should keep a certain distance from it, do not approach it, and do not startle it, otherwise it will chase you and bite you.
3. Rattlesnake reproduction
The vast majority of rattlesnakes mate in spring, by means of ovoviviparity. Once the young snakes are born they can fend for themselves, and the mother snake does not need to stay by the young snakes' side.
2. What function does the rattlesnake's tail serve
1. Attracting small animals
The rattlesnake's tail can rub against the air to make a peculiar sound, imitating the sound of flowing water to attract some small desert animals that feel thirsty. Once the prey appears, they will secretly crawl over and grab it in one go.
2. Protecting itself
The rattlesnake's tail can keep swinging to make a rattling sound, frightening off enemies. Why can the tail make a sound? Because at the tip of the rattlesnake's tail there grows a kind of keratinous chain-like ring, which encloses a cavity, and a keratinous membrane divides the cavity into two ring-shaped hollow bubbles, as if they were two air oscillators. When the rattlesnake keeps shaking its tail, a flow of air forms inside the hollow bubbles, oscillating back and forth as it goes in and out, and the hollow bubbles produce the “rattling” sound.
In addition, the rattlesnake's tail can also mislead enemies into thinking it is its head, thereby achieving the effect of protecting itself.
Whether it is a rattlesnake or other snakes, they are all cold-blooded animals; they have no limbs, yet they can crawl quickly. Although they look terrifying, you should not easily harm them.