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Prairie Rattlesnake

Crotalus viridis viridis

Photo by wrathraptor
Published on Project Noah
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40.1083, -104.52

Field Notes

Description:

Female Prairie Rattlesnake encountered post-basking near railroad tracks. She was in transit when I came upon her, and put on an excellent show!

Habitat:

Semi-arid grasslands, shrublands, plains, dry sandy soil, predominant vegetation: prairie grasses, banana yucca, juniper, sagebrush

Reference Links:

Crotalus viridis RAFINESQUE 1818, Crotalus viridis

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (17)
HeidiEaton
Beautiful photos of a gorgeous snake!
LisaPowers
Hi wrathraptor. welcome to Project Noah. I am always happy to find new herpers on here. This is a fantastic spotting. Please be sure to add this to the Snakes of the United States – CSC mission to help with their citizen science project! http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/12027210
Fyn Kynd
WOW! Crazy awesome spot! #1 makes it look like it has 4 eyes.
CoralAvery
Love the pose! Amazing you captured it!
HeatherMiller
Wrathraptor - I think a good Nikkor zoom would be cheaper and more survivable than a snake bite from a snake who got jumpy. :-P
Ashish
I think both are deadly. Who gets their bite is half dead due to fear...and shock..!!
wrathraptor
@ Weirdoz: In most cases, the cobra is deadlier. But it really depends on the rattlesnake. There is one species that can drop a grown man in less than 15-20 minutes!
wrathraptor
@ Ashish: Actually, it is more of a defensive pose, just letting me know that she means business if I get too close.
wrathraptor
@ Heather: I get really close to these snakes. I only have a fixed lens on my Nikon L100. I've been doing research on the venom of these snakes for a little more than a year now. So, I've learned where the "safe zone" ends. :D
weirdoz_ta75
which more poisonous, a rattle snake or a cobra?
Ashish
Its looks alike in attacking pose..!!
HeatherMiller
I hope you had a long zoom on that camera at the time!

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2011 Best Wildlife Photo

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Photographed
PublishedJune 11, 2011

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