By: Saba Syed INTRODUCTION:
Today we will learn about Arizona Black Rattlesnake. It is a reptile and lives in the desert. It is also known as Crotalus cerberus. It is a native to Sonoran Desert. It is found at elevations ranging from about 4,000' to over 9,000'.Arizona Black Rattlesnake eats rats, squirrels, mice, lizards, and birds. It injects venom through long, hollow, retractable fangs to kill and begin digesting its prey. It has broad, wedge-shaped head much wider than my neck, and large, erectable fangs. An adult can be up to 42 inches long and vary shades of black or dark gray. It has darker, saddle-shaped blotches scattered with yellow to white crossbars along my back and light-colored rattles that contrast strongly with my overall dark coloration. Young looks more like other Arizona rattlesnakes and is light gray with dark-edged brown blotches. Its color darkens to blackish as it age. It appears to produce four to five youngs a year. The babies are usually born between August-October. I am an Arizona Black Rattlesnake. I am a reptile and live in the desert. I am also known as Crotalus cerberus. I am native to Sonoran Desert.
 WHERE DO I LIVE?
I am found across the central mountains of the state from below the Colorado River in northwestern Arizona. I am also found at elevations ranging from about 4,000' to over 9,000', in or near rocky drainages with permanent or semi-permanent water. I am also encountered on open, rocky slopes. WHAT DO I EAT?
I use heat sensing pits to detect warm-blooded predators and prey. I eats rats, squirrels, mice, lizards, and birds. I inject venom through long, hollow, retractable fangs to kill and begin digesting my prey.
 HOW DO I LOOK?
I am venomous, have a broad, wedge-shaped head much wider than my neck, and large, erectable fangs. As an adult, I can be up to 42 inches long and vary shades of black or dark gray. I have darker, saddle-shaped blotches scattered with yellow to white crossbars along my back and light-colored rattles that contrast strongly with my overall dark coloration. As a young, I look more like other Arizona rattlesnakes and is light gray with dark-edged brown blotches. My color darkens to blackish as I age.
HOW DO I REPRODUCE?
I appear to produce 4 to 21 youngs a year. The babies are usually born between August-October. The babies are able to take care of themselves immediately and require no parental care. They are from 22-28 cm long when born and are already venomous.
FUN FACTS ABOUT ME!
I will often rattle my tail, producing a loud, dry rattling sound meant to warn the threat away. The rattle is made of keratin, the same material found in human hair and fingernails. I am capable of delivering large amounts of potent venom.  ACTIVITY Spark up your imagination and create a poster of Arizona Black Rattlesnake. Use a colored construction paper (8”x11”) for this super creative activity. The poster must include at least 1 picture (hand drawn or printed), and some cool facts about the Arizona Black Rattlesnake. You can color it any way you want, using crayons, markers, paints, or colored pencils.
Grade 2 Create a poster of this unique snake. This is where you can be as creative as you like. Your poster should be approximately 18”x18” inch and must include at least 3 pictures. The pictures can be hand drawn or printed. The poster must also include some cool facts about the Arizona Black Rattlesnake and also one thing about the snake that interest you the most. You can decorate it any way you want, using crayons, markers, paints, or colored pencils. Grade 3 Put on your artist hat and get ready! Create an exciting poster of this unique snake, a Sonora Desert native. The size of the poster should be about 18”x24”. and must include at least 4 pictures. The pictures can be hand drawn or printed from the websites. The poster must also include some fun and interesting facts about the Arizona Black Rattlesnake.It must also include two things about the Arizona Black Rattlesnake that interest you the most, labelled seperately under a separate heading. Use any art medium you are interested in in making this poster colorful including crayons, markers, paints, or colored pencils. WHERE DID YOU FIND INFORMATION ABOUT ME? This website has information about animals, crawlers, and insects of Arizona and Hawaii. Reptiles and Amphibians of Arizona An online field guide to the reptiles and amphibians of Arizona. |