Crotalus cerberus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crotalus cerberus |
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Crotalus
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cerberus
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The Arizona black rattlesnake (scientific name: Crotalus cerberus) is a type of venomous snake. It belongs to the pit viper family. You can find this snake in the southwestern United States. People also call it the black rattlesnake or mountain diamond-back.
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What Does the Arizona Black Rattlesnake Look Like?
Size and Appearance
Adult Arizona black rattlesnakes usually grow to be about 78 to 109 centimeters (31 to 43 inches) long. Some can even reach up to 122 centimeters (48 inches).
Their body color can be dark gray, brownish-black, or reddish-brown. They often have darker blotches on their back. These blotches might look like rectangles near the head. Towards the tail, they can turn into crossbands.
Color Variations
Some of these snakes are a solid dark color. They might not have any clear patterns. Other snakes can be very pale. They might have a lot of yellow mixed in with their colors. Lighter-colored snakes often have a stripe behind their eyes. This stripe is harder to see on darker snakes.
How Arizona Black Rattlesnakes Change Color
Slow Color Change
Arizona black rattlesnakes can change their color slowly. This is called morphological color change. It happens as they grow older. Young snakes often have more patterns than adult snakes. This is also known as ontogenetic color change.
Fast Color Change
Some adult snakes can change their color quickly. This is called physiological color change. It is similar to how chameleons change color. Other snakes, like some Tropidophis species, can also do this.
Scientists think this quick color change happens because of melanin. Melanin is a pigment that moves inside their skin cells. More research is needed to understand why and how they do this.
Common Names for the Arizona Black Rattlesnake
This snake has many common names. These include:
- Arizona black rattlesnake
- Black rattlesnake
- Black diamond rattlesnake
- Brown rattlesnake
- Cerberus rattlesnake
- Mountain diamond-back
Sometimes, people mistakenly call it a timber rattlesnake.
Where Do Arizona Black Rattlesnakes Live?
You can find these snakes in Arizona, United States. They live in areas like the Hualapai Mountains and Cottonwood Cliffs in the northwest. Their range extends southeast to the Santa Catalina, Rincon, Pinaleno, and Blue Mountains. They are also found in extreme western New Mexico, near Steeple Rock.
What Do Arizona Black Rattlesnakes Eat?
The Arizona black rattlesnake is a predator. It hunts and eats various animals. Its diet includes:
- Amphibians (like frogs)
- Reptiles (like lizards)
- Birds and their eggs
- Mammals (like small rodents)
They eat animals that are the right size for them.
How Arizona Black Rattlesnakes Reproduce
Female Arizona black rattlesnakes give birth to live young. They do not lay eggs. A mother can have anywhere from 4 to 21 babies at a time. These babies are called neonates.
The Arizona black rattlesnake is special because it shows complex social behavior. Like other pit vipers that live in temperate climates, mothers care for their babies. Females stay with their young in nests for 7 to 14 days. Mothers have even been seen working together to raise their young.
