Aruba Island Rattlesnake
TYPE: Reptile
STATUS:
Critically Endangered
QUICK STATS
Body size
95 cm
.09–1.4 kg
native habitat
Rocky, dry areas of Aruba Island (off the coast of Venezuela)
life expectancy
12–20 years
diet
Small rodents, birds, lizards
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous (eggs hatched within body); 5–9 babies per litter
predators
Crested Caracaras, merlins, osprey
natural defenses
Coloration, venom, rattle on tail
About the Species
A RARE RATTLESNAKE
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.
Crotalus unicolor
The Aruba Island rattlesnake is one of the rarest rattlesnakes in the world!
WORD FROM
THE EXPERTS
