Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

The rattle of a rattlesnake is made up keratin, the same protein that makes up your fingernails and hair.

Rattlesnakes get their name from the rattle at the end of their tail, which serves as a defense warning. The snake can shake the rattle up to 90 times per second- faster than a hummingbird can flap its wings! The rattle is made up of several keratinous rings. Every time the snake sheds, a new ring is added. Snakes may shed several times every year, so the myth that the number of rings indicates the snake's age is false. Additionally, the brittle rattle may break off. Although eastern diamondbacks are considered common, their populations are decreasing. Habitat loss is a main threat. Additionally, there are no regulations on the killing of rattlesnakes. In fact, some states throughout the southeast still have "Rattlesnake Roundups" where people go out to kill rattlesnakes. Many conservationists, including team members of the Central Florida Zoo, are working to change these roundups into festivals, and help educate people on the importance and value of rattlesnakes.