The Aruba Island rattlesnake has a short and stocky-looking body, with a rattle-tipped tail. Its main body color is brown with a lighter brown tail tip. Their scaly skin also has pink, blue and brown diamond-shaped markings.
This species is rare because it only exists naturally on the small island of Aruba, where just 25 square kilometers of habitat remains undisturbed. Aruba Island rattlesnakes belong to the viper family, and like other vipers it has a V-shaped head and venomous long hollow fangs which fold against the roof the mouth when not used.
The Aruba Island rattlesnake is one of the rarest rattlesnakes in the world! There is only 25 square kilometers of habitat left in the wild where they are found.
Dave
This snake is nocturnal in the warmer months but active throughout the rest of the year in early mornings and late afternoons.
Aruba Island (off the coast of Venezuela)
Rocky, dry
95 cm | .09–1.4 kg
Small rodents, birds, lizards
Crested Caracaras, merlins, osprey
Coloration, venom, rattle on tail
Ovoviviparous (eggs hatched within body); 5–9 babies per litter
Critically Endangered
12–20 years
