A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

What is a rattlesnake's rattle made of?

Best Answers

Rattlesnakes are born with tiny buttons at the end of their tails. Each time they shed their skin, a scale remains behind which, in time, becomes the infamous rattle. (1:11). Source: Smithsonian Channel: Viper Queens. Tags. Snakes. Latest Videos. read more

Rattlesnakes also hiss, a second element of its warning posture that is often overlooked and overshadowed by its rattle, writes Laurence Monroe Klauber in "Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind" (University of California Press, 1997). read more

The rattle is composed of a series of hollow, interlocked segments made of keratin, which are created by modifying the scales that cover the tip of the tail. The contraction of special "shaker" muscles in the tail causes these segments to vibrate against one another, making the rattling noise (which is amplified because the segments are hollow) in a behavior known as tail vibration. read more

From the deserts of the American Southwest to the jungles and villages of Africa, vipers are notorious for their bad attitudes, diamond-shaped heads, and the longest snake fangs on Earth. But these snakes are not simply cold-blooded killers. The females have a softer side when it comes to family. read more

Related Facts

Image Answers