Life History
Ancient History
The ancestors of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake were part of an ancient dry-habitat fauna that stretched from Florida to the southwestern United States. This fauna included such forms as the scrub jay, gopher tortoise and burrowing owl - species familiar to modern Floridians. Rattlesnakes, which are in the Viper family of snakes (Viperidae), probably originated in Mexico and the Southwest about 8 million years ago. They have since spread throughout most of the continental U.S., parts of Canada, and Central and South America. In Florida, fossil remains indicate that the diamondback has existed in the area for at least 2 million years.
Life History
Eastern diamondbacks give live birth to about 7 - 21 young between July and October. Females may not breed every year. A rattlesnake, if unmolested, may live to the ripe old age of 20 years. The eastern diamondback feeds on a variety of small mammals and some birds. The bulk of its prey consists of rabbits and cotton rats. Diamondbacks hunt from a tight coil, remaining motionless, waiting to ambush prey that come within striking distance. They may spend from one day, to as much as a week coiled in the same position. They also will rest their heads on a log, waiting for rodents to scurry along the top of it, then make their deadly strike.
Eastern diamondbacks have large home ranges that may encompass as much as 500 acres. The home range of females is usually smaller than that of males. Males may move long distances during the late summer (up to 20 miles per day), in search of females to breed with.
Eastern diamondbacks are primarily terrestrial (living on the surface of the ground), rarely climbing into trees and infrequently going underground during the summer. During winter, movements decrease; rattlesnakes in the northern part of the range often stay below ground, but those further south still remain on the surface much of the time.
