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By Lisa Huard
INTRODUCTION
Hello! We are going to learn about the rock rattlesnake today! The rock rattlesnake is a reptile that lives in the Sonoran Desert around the rocky environment. Its pattern blends in with the habitat. Young rock rattlesnakes have a lighter more bright tail that they use to their advantage but when it gets older in life, their tail becomes a more dual color. It eat a variety of things like rodents, lizards, and small birds. The rock rattlesnake uses its skin color to blend in with the environment so it can attack its prey and hide from predators. Because it can’t see very well and it has no hearing, it relies on vibration movements to catch its prey. This snake has a round head and a stocky body. BThe pattern on its body can vary from snake to snake but it typically matches the rock environment that it live
s in.This snake's length is between 30 to 35 inches. The rock rattlesnake breeds once a year and it is typically in spring time. The females usually give birth to between six and eight babies. Now that you know a little about this interesting snake, read on and attempt the activity and test at the end! Good luck!
WHO AM I
My name is Rock Rattlesnake and I am one of many types of Rattlesnakes. I am a reptile that is up to 33’’ long. I live in the Sonoran Desert around the rocky environment and my pattern blends in with my habitat. When I am younger I have a lighter more bright tail that I use to my advantage but when I get older in life my tail because a more dual color.  WHERE DO I LIVE? You can find me in desert areas such as Arizona, New Mexico and southern parts of Texas. I live in rocky lands and slopes. I like to stay close to my home which is usually under a variety of rocks. I try not to bother people and I am a non aggressive rattlesnake.
WHAT DO I EAT? I eat a variety of things. I use my skin color to blend in with my environment to attack on my prey and hide from my predator. I eat small mammals, lizards, and sometimes I even eat frogs. Because I can’t see very well and I have no hearing I rely on vibration movements to catch my prey. Because I live in the Sonoran Desert I rely on animals that live in this environment. WHAT DO I LOOK LIKE? I have a round head and a stocky body. My pattern on my body can vary from snake to snake but it typically matches the rock environment that I live in. If you find me in higher altitudes I am typically have a darker pattern but if you find me in limestone areas I have a lighter pattern. I am not a very long rattlesnake however I range from 30” to 35’ in length.  HOW DO I REPRODUCE? I breed once a year and it is typically in spring time. Each time I have babies I have about six to eight babies. The young are similar in pattern as the parent but not always. FUN FACT ABOUT ME? I have very poor eyesight and cannot hear so when searching for my prey I respond on vibration. WHERE DID YOU FIND INFORMATION ABOUT ME? Rock rattlesnake- http://www.wildlifenorthamerica.com/Reptile/Rock-Rattlesnake/Crotalus/lepidus-lepidus.html ACTIVITY!!!
Materials Needed:
Pencils
Crayons
Glue
Scissors
Writers Notebook
Kindergaren-1st Grade: Students will draw or cut out a picture of the rock rattlesnake and glue it to a page in their writers notebook. Then they will write one sentence about something they learned about this amazing snake today.
2nd Grade: Students will draw or cut out a picture of the rock rattlesnake and glue it to a page in their writers notebook. Then they will write two to three sentences about something they learned about this amazing snake today.
3rd Grade: Students will draw or cut out a picture of the rock rattlesnake and glue it to a page in their writers notebook. Then they will write one paragraph of at least five sentences about something they learned about this amazing snake today.
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