If the meal was adequate, the snake finds a warm, safe location in which to coil up and rest until the prey is digested. If the prey is small, the rattlesnake often continues hunting. Optimal digestion occurs when the snake maintains a body temperature between 80 and 85 ☏ (25 and 29 ☌). The gastric fluids of rattlesnakes are extremely powerful, allowing for the digestion of flesh and bone. The prey is then ingested head first, which allows wings and limbs to fold at the joints in a manner that minimizes the girth of the meal. Once the prey has become incapacitated, the rattlesnake locates its head by odors emitted from the mouth. When it locates the fallen prey, it checks for signs of life by prodding with its snout, flicking its tongue, and using its sense of smell. If the bitten prey moves away before dying, the rattlesnake can follow it by its scent. The prey is killed quickly with a venomous bite as opposed to constriction. More importantly environmental temperature can influence the ability of ectotherms. The rattlesnake's defence and hunting mechanisms are bound to its physiology and its environment. They lie in wait for their prey, or hunt for it in holes. Rattlesnakes typically consume mice, rats, rabbits, squirrels, small birds, and other small animals. The most probable vegetation or habitat of the ancestral area appears to be pine-oak forests. The most probable ancestral area of rattlesnakes is the Sierra Madre Occidental region in Mexico. Rattlesnakes prefer a temperature range between 80 and 90 ☏ (26 and 32 ☌), but can survive temperatures below freezing, recovering from brief exposure to temperatures as low as 4 ☏ (−16 ☌), and surviving for several days in temperatures as low as 37 ☏ (3 ☌). However, rattlesnakes can also be found in a wide variety of other habitats, including prairies, marshes, deserts, and forests. that live amidst the rocks), and open basking areas. Rocks offer them cover from predators, plentiful prey (e.g. Most species live near open, rocky areas. Rattlesnakes are found in almost every habitat type capable of supporting terrestrial ectothermic vertebrates, but individual species may have extremely specific habitat requirements, living where certain plant associations occur or within a narrow range of elevations. In the United States, the state with the most types of rattlesnakes is Arizona, with 13. Four species may be found east of the Mississippi River, and two in South America. The large majority of species live in the American Southwest and Mexico. Rattlesnakes are native to the Americas from southern Canada to central Argentina, with the majority of species inhabiting arid regions. Ecology Range and habitat Western diamondback rattlesnake ( Crotalus atrox), responsible for the majority of venomous snakebites in North America, coiled in defensive posture with rattle erect The name Sistrurus is the Latinized form of the Greek word for "tail rattler" (Σείστρουρος, seistrouros) and shares its root with the ancient Egyptian musical instrument the sistrum, a type of rattle. The scientific name Crotalus is derived from the Greek κρόταλον, meaning " castanet". Rattlesnake populations in many areas are severely threatened by habitat destruction, poaching, and extermination campaigns. Large numbers of rattlesnakes are killed by humans. Rattlesnakes are heavily preyed upon as neonates, while they are still weak and immature. Rattlesnakes are preyed upon by hawks, weasels, king snakes, and a variety of other species. The largest rattlesnake, the eastern diamondback, can measure up to 8 ft (2.4 m) in length. The 36 known species of rattlesnakes have between 65 and 70 subspecies, all native to the Americas, ranging from British Columbia through Ontario in southern Canada, to central Argentina. Rattlesnakes are the leading contributor to snakebite injuries in North America, but rarely bite unless provoked or threatened if treated promptly, the bites are seldom fatal. Rattlesnakes receive their name from the rattle located at the end of their tails, which makes a loud rattling noise when vibrated that deters predators. Rattlesnakes are predators that live in a wide array of habitats, hunting small animals such as birds and rodents. Rattlesnakes are venomous snakes that form the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus of the subfamily Crotalinae (the pit vipers). The subfamily also includes many genera of pit vipers that are not rattlesnakes. For other uses, see Rattlesnake (disambiguation) and Rattler (disambiguation).
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