As with most reptiles, snakes live a long time compared to dogs or cats. The venom is mainly hemotoxic and attacks the victim’s blood system.-Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes have heat It is a small- to medium-sized snake, with adult lengths averaging 2 to 3 feet. They actually give birth to live young. Most snakes are relatively small, about a meter long. Characteristics The Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) is a venomous pit viper with a diamond shaped head on a relatively thin neck.This leads to a fairly heavy body that can grow to five feet in length. With proper medical care, snakebites are normally cured and patients can recuperate. The pupils of the eyes are vertically elliptical. A wide range of rattlesnakes live across the U.S. and North America, and some varieties live in South America as well. -Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes can live to over 20 years.-These rattlesnakes use venom to immobilize their prey that includes birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Although rattlesnake bites are dangerous, the recorded fatality rate from their bites is quite low. Neonates (newborn) timber rattlesnakes are about 10-14 inches long at birth. Following a gestation period of 4-5 months, females give birth to 4-14 (average 9) young every three to five years between late August to mid-September. Prairie Rattlesnake . Some reach 8 feet in length and weigh up to 10 pounds. As they often live in disguise to hunt prey, humans sometimes inadvertently end up stepping on them. This type of reproduction is known as ovoviviparous. Rattlesnakes do not lay eggs in nests. Newborn diamondbacks are 12-15 inches long and resemble their parents, except their tails end in smooth buttons rather than rattles. This largely varies depending on which type of snake it is. Females seek burrows or hollow logs to give birth to between 6 and 21 young. The average lifespan is between 13- 18 years old in captivity and 10 – 15 years in the wild. A rattlesnake can move the rattle on its tail back and forth 20-100 times in just one second. Rattlesnakes are very long-lived—about 15 to 20 years, or more—relative to their body size because they’re really good at conserving energy. All rattlesnakes are ovoviviparous, meaning their eggs hatch inside their body and they give birth to live young. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in North America. Rattlesnakes have also been harvested as human food. There are 36 identified species of rattlesnakes as of 2014. Full grown rattlesnakes can range from 3 to 7 feet in length. Each distinct species has its own range. NPS. The average rattlesnake can live 15 to 20 years. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) is a unique and fascinating part of Michigan's natural heritage. Rattlesnake Reproduction. The extinct snakes of Titanoboa cerrejonensis were 12-15 m in length, but to date the longest reptile mesh python is about 10 m. 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