Santa Catalina rattlesnake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santa Catalina Rattlesnake |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Subphylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Suborder: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: |
C. catalinensis
|
 |
|
The Santa Catalina Rattlesnake (Crotalus catalinensis) is a special type of venomous pit viper. It is also known as the "Santa Catalina Island Rattlesnake." This snake lives only on Santa Catalina Island. There are no different types or subspecies of this snake known today.
What Does It Look Like?
The Santa Catalina Rattlesnake is a small and thin rattlesnake. It can grow up to about 73 centimeters (28.8 inches) long. This snake is famous because it is one of the few rattlesnakes that does not have a rattle on its tail.
Some of these snakes are light cream in color. They have reddish-brown spots down their backs. Other Santa Catalina Rattlesnakes are ash gray. These gray snakes have dark gray spots on them.
Where Does It Live?
The Santa Catalina Rattlesnake is found only on Santa Catalina Island. This island is located in the Gulf of California. It is the only place in the world where this unique snake lives.
How Does It Behave?
Most other rattlesnakes in the group called "Crotalus" usually stay on the ground. But the Santa Catalina Rattlesnake is different. Because it is small, it is a very good climber.
In July, which is the hottest month on Santa Catalina Island, these snakes climb up. You can find them on the branches of bushes and trees. They do this to escape the hot ground below.
What Does It Eat?
Since the Santa Catalina Rattlesnake spends a lot of time in trees, scientists first thought it ate birds. But scientists have now learned more about its diet.
They found that about 70% of what this rattlesnake eats is small mammals. An example is the Santa Catalina Deer Mouse. The other 30% of its diet is made up of lizards. These lizards include the Santa Catalina Desert Iguana and the Santa Catalina Side-blotched lizard.
