Mohave Rattlesnake

INTRODUCTION 
 
    On this page you will find a few different things. There are facts to learn, and activity to do, and an assessment to test how much you understand about this facinating animal.
Hope you enjoy it!!


 



I am a long, venomous, rattlesnake. I can be tan, olive, or gray brown with dark blotches running down my back. a new section of skin is added each time I shed a layer of my skin. I am found most across western and southern Arizona; Sonoran, Mohave, and Chihuahuan desertscrubs, and Semidesert Grasslands. I am primarily noctural and I hibernate during the cold months in late fall and winter. When I feel threatened my defense is incessant rattling, evaluating my head into a high striking posture, frequent striking, and a gradual retreat towards the nearest shelter. I like to eat rats, mice, lizards, birds, and frogs. I use my venom through my retractable fangs to kill and begin digesting its prey. 17 young is born in the summer, after mating in spring and summer. I am capable of delivering large amounts of potent venom, and in some parts of the state my venom contains dangerous neurotoxins. I am dangerous so do not play with me.
Who am I?
 



 
WHO AM I? - Hey there! Do you know who am just from looking at my picture? Thats right I am a type of snake, but which type? Thats right I am a rattlesnake!!I am known as a Mohave Rattlesnake. Being a rattlesnake, means I have a rattle attached to the end of my tail.

WHERE DO I LIVE? I live mostly in the Western and Southern Arizona.I like the warmer weather better then the cold.  I also live in the Sonoran, Mohave, and Chihuahuan desertscrubs and Semidesert Grassland.

WHAT DO I EAT? I love to eat rats, mice, lizards, birds, and frogs. I use my venom through my fangs to bite my prey. This way i can eat them better.  

HOW DO I LOOK? I am tan, olive, or gray-brown with dark splotches running down my back that gradually morph into cross bands. I have a rattle attached to the end of my tail.  I use this rattle when I am feeling threatened.

HOW DO I REPRODUCE? I reproduce a litter of up to 17 young born in summer. Females lay the eggs and the babies are born from the eggs. Thats right there are 17 babies born at the same time. Thats one big family!

FUN FACT ABOUT ME? I am capable of delivering large amounts of potent young. In some parts of the state (Arizona) my venom contains dangerous neurotoxin. I am not to be played with, so if I start to rattle just back away slowly.

 
 
 
 
ACTIVITY - My Sonoran Poster

Materials Needed

 

  • Paper
  • Crayons, Markers, and other art supplies
  • Internet access for pictures
  • scissors
  • Pens and Pencils
  • Glue (stick or bottle what ever you prefer)
  • Imagination




K-1st Grade: Its Poster Time!! Now that you have read about this mysterious animal, make a poster to show other people what you have learned. You poster should be 11” x 8.5”, draw pictures, ask an adult to help you print pictures from the Internet, you also need to include the animals name, and where they are found. Have fun and be creative, after all it is your poster!

2nd Grade: Its Poster Time!! Now that you have read about this mysterious animal, make a poster to show other people what you have learned. You poster should be 11” x 17” (or a piece of construction paper), you will also need to include three pictures you can draw them or  ask an adult to help you print pictures from the Internet. You also need to include three facts you learned about the animal on the poster. Have fun and be creative, after all it is your poster!

3rd Grade: Its Poster Time!! Now that you have read about this mysterious animal, make a poster to show other people what you have learned. You will also need to include five (5) pictures you can draw them or  ask an adult to help you print pictures from the Internet. You also need to have five (5) facts you learned about the animal on the poster. You poster should be as big or as small as you would like, remember you have to fit all your facts and pictures on it. Have fun and be creative, after all it is your poster!

 
 
 
 
 


References

The Reptiles and Amphibians of Arizona
This is a good place to learn more about this animal and others on this site!
http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Snakes-Subpages/h-c-scutulatus.html
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