Western Massasauga Rattlesnake VENOMOUS!
Other Names: MassasaugaScientific Name: Sistrurus tergeminus
Family: Crotalidae
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Description & Size
- Legless
- No eyelids
- Lacks external ears
- Each scale has a prominent ridge in the middle (strongly keeled)
- Rattle present on end of the tail
- Pit on each side of the head between the nostril and eye
- Vertical elliptical pupils
- Total length: 41.0-103.0 cm (16.1-40.6 in)
- Back color: light gray to dark brown
- Horizontal stripes and/or blotched patterns on back (dark brown)
Habitat
- Wet prairies
- Wetlands
- Crayfish burrows
Diet
- Small mammals
- Amphibians
- Reptiles
- Birds
Life History
- Diurnal and nocturnal
- Active season: mid-March – mid-November (Jellen et al, 2007)
- Breeding season: early spring – mid-summer
- Gives live birth
- 2-19 young per female