Animal Information Natural Treasures Snakes Treasures - Sn… · Statistics – One of the longest snakes in the Americas Length – up to 7 feet Diet – Carnivore Wild – Birds,

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Animal Information

Natural Treasures

Snakes

Table of Contents

Non-Venomous

Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake………………………………………………………..2

Boa Constrictor……………………………………………………………………………..4

Emerald Tree Boa………………………………………………………….………………6

Tiger Ratsnake………………………………………………………….…………………..8

Amazon Tree Boa………………………………………………………………………….9

Brazilian Rainbow Boa…………………………………………………………………10

Black Ratsnake…………………………………………………………………………….11

Reticulated Python………………………………………………………………………12

Venomous

Eyelash Palm Pitviper…………………………………………………………………..14

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake…………………………………………………16

South American Bushmaster……………………………………………………….18

Brazilian Lancehead…………………………………………………………………….20

Mexican West Coast Rattlesnake…………………………………………………21

Timber Rattlesnake………………………………………………………………………22

Broad-banded Copperhead………………………………………………………….24

2

John Ball Zoo Habitat – Located in the Natural Treasures building.

Individual Animals – 1 Female

Unknown hatch date and location

Arrived April 07, 2011

o From a private donor

Life Expectancy

Wild: data deficient

Under managed care: up to 20 years

Statistics

Length – up to 43 inches

Diet – Carnivore

Wild – Lizards, rodents, birds, and bats

Predators

Raptors and mammals.

Habitat

Shrubland, rocky areas, and forests.

Region

Range extends discontinuously from

east-central Nevada, central and western

Utah, Arizona, and southwestern New

Mexico in the United States, to eastern

Sonora and western Chihuahua, Mexico.

Adaptations

When threatened can release foul

smelling musk and feces.

Immune to rattlesnake venom.

By closely imitating the colors of the Coral Snake, the Kingsnake can often scare off

potential predators.

o The image on the left is a Coral Snake. The black stripes are not touching the red

stripes. The image on the right is a Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake, there are black

stripes in between the red and white stripes.

Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake

Lampropeltis pyromelana

3

Reproduction

Mating takes place in spring

Oviparous: Lays eggs

Clutch size: 3-6 eggs

Eggs hatch 66-83 days after being lain.

Behavior – Diurnal

Forages mid-morning.

Hibernates during the cold months of

fall and winter.

Conservation Concerns

Urbanization and habitat destruction

Roadside mortality

The pet trade.

Conservation Ask

Be thoughtful while engaging and connecting with Nature o Participate in nature friendly behavior

Observe, don’t disturb wildlife If you care, leave it there

Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions o Choose your pets responsibly

Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake

Lampropeltis pyromelana

4

John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building in a mixed species habitat

with an Emerald Tree Boa and a Tiger Ratsnake.

Individual Animals – 1 Undetermined – Athena

Estimated Birth: Unknown o Birth location: Unknown

Arrived February 19, 2015 o From: Private donor

Life Expectancy

Wild: 20 years

Under Managed Care: 30-35 years Statistics

Length – 6-13 feet

Females tend to be larger than males

Diet – Carnivore

Wild – Birds, small mammals, reptiles, and eggs.

Predators

Numerous reptilian, avian, and mammalian predators such as

Jaguars and Crocodiles.

Habitat

Rainforest clearings or edges, woodlands, grasslands, dry

tropical forest, thorn scrub, and semi-desert regions.

Region

Range extends from northern Mexico through Central and

South America.

Reproduction – Polygynandrous – referring to males and females

pairing with several different mates.

Boa constrictors generally breed during the dry season,

usually from April to August, though the timing of the dry

season varies across their range.

Most female boa constrictors do not appear to reproduce annually.

Boa constrictors possess pelvic spurs which are hind leg remnants found on either side

of the cloacal opening. They are used by males in courtship and are larger in males than

in females.

Males possess hemipenes, a double-penis, of which only one side is commonly used in

mating.

Gestation lasts for 5 to 8 months depending on local temperatures.

Ovoviviparous – embryos develop within their mothers' bodies.

The average litter has 25 young but can be anywhere from 10 to 64 young.

Boa constrictor young are born fully developed and are independent within minutes of

birth.

Boa Constrictor

Boa constrictor

5

Adaptations

Lacks the heat-sensing pits that most

snakes have.

Rows of long, recurved teeth of about the

same size that are continuously replaced.

Boa Constrictors have spurs, or vestigial

hind limbs, located on their abdomen.

Their tongues flick continuously, bringing

odor molecules into contact with the

chemosensory (vomeronasal) organ in the

top of their mouths. In this manner, they constantly sense chemical cues in their

environment.

Boa constrictors have good vision, even into the

ultraviolet spectrum.

Behavior – Solitary

Can be either nocturnal or crepuscular.

They periodically shed their skins (more frequently

in juveniles than adults).

o A lubricating substance is produced under the old skin layer. When this occurs,

the snake's eye can be seen to cloud up as this substance comes between its eye

and the old eye-covering. The cloudiness affects their vision and boas will often

become inactive for several days until the shedding has completed and their

vision is restored. During shedding, the skin splits over the snout and eventually

peels back from the rest of the body.

Boa constrictors are most often in trees or on the ground near streams and rivers.


Boa constrictors are predators on birds and small mammals, including bats. They are

important predators of rodents and opossums, especially, which can become pests in

some areas and carry human diseases.

Over collection for the pet trade and needless direct persecution has had an impact on

their population.

Conservation Ask

Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions

o Actions – Choose your pets responsibly

Boa Constrictor

Boa constrictor

6


with a Boa Constrictor and a Tiger Ratsnake.

Individual Animals – 1 Female – Esmeralda

Estimated Birth: Unknown o Birth location: Unknown

Arrived February 19, 2015 o From: Private donor

Life Expectancy


Under Managed Care: 15 years

Statistics

Length – up to 7 feet

Females tend to be larger than males.

Diet – Carnivore

Wild – Mainly rodents, but also lizards, mammals, and possibly birds.

Predators – Guianan crested eagles

Habitat

Rainforest canopy foliage,

swamp forest, and along rivers.

Region

Northern Brazil, eastern Peru, southern

Colombia, southern Venezuela, French Guiana,

eastern Ecuador, Suriname, Guyana, and the

extreme north of Bolivia.

Reproduction

Viviparous: live birth

Gestation: 6-7 months.

The average litter size: 10

Females do not provide care after birth.

Emerald Tree Boa Corallus caninus

7 Emerald Tree Boa

Corallus caninus

Behavior – Nocturnal

Form an ellipsoidal coil with their bodies, with the head in the center.

As ambush predators, they catch most prey by snatching them off the ground as they

hang from these branches.

Adaptations

Emerald tree boas are cryptically colored and

generally remain hidden in the foliage of trees.

Emerald tree boas perceive prey primarily through

sight and infrared heat receptors (pits) located in

the labial scales.

Elongated maxillary teeth longer than those

belonging to other non-venomous snakes.


Pet trade

Local people generally kill this snake when

encountered.

Conservation Ask

Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you

make every day purchasing decisions


8

Tiger Ratsnake Spilotes pullatus


with an Emerald Tree Boa and a Boa Constrictor.

Individual Animals – 1 Undetermined – Athena

Estimated Birth: June 2006 o Birth location: Unknown

Arrived April 26, 2013 o From: Private donor

Life Expectancy


Under Managed Care: up to 15 years Statistics – One of the longest snakes in the Americas

Length – up to 7 feet

Diet – Carnivore

Wild – Birds, small mammals, lizards, frogs, and snakes.

Predators – No known predators.

Habitat – Deserts and flooded forests.

Region – Mexico through tropical South America.

Reproduction

Oviparous: lays eggs


Offspring emerge 73-76 days after the eggs are laid.

Adaptations

Tongues aids in smelling prey. It is forked to help determine the direction in which the

smell is coming.

Behavior – Arboreal and Terrestrial

Basks on large branches during the day.


There is a stable population in the wild.

This species is often kept as a pet, but can be dangerous.

Conservation Ask



9

Amazon Tree Boa

Corallus hortulanus hortulanus


with Brazilian Rain Boas and Smoky Jungle Frogs.


Estimated Birth: July 16, 2006 o Birth location: Private collection

Arrived October 22, 2006 o From: Private donor

Life Expectancy


Under Managed Care: approx. 20 years Statistics – Length – 1.7-6.1 feet

Diet – Carnivore

Wild – birds, bats, frogs, rodents, lizards, and marsupials

Predators

Humans, Harpy eagles, and Saddleback tamarins

Habitat – Forests and savannas

Region – Guianas, Amazonia, south-eastern Brazil, southern

Central America, northern Columbia, northern Venezuela,

Trinidad and Tobago, and the southern Windward Islands.

Reproduction

Sexual maturity is reached at 3 years

Ovoviviparous: eggs hatch within the female

Young are independent at birth

Adaptations

Their color patterns camouflage them during the day.

Tongue aids in smelling prey. It is forked to help

determine the direction in which the smell is coming.


Hunt at night using their infrared sensitivity or during

the day using vision.

They are typically ambush hunters

Conservation Concerns – The pet trade

Conservation Ask

Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make

every day purchasing decisions


10

Brazilian Rainbow Boa

Epicrates cenchria cenchria

John Ball Zoo Habitat – Located in the Natural Treasures building in a mixed species habitat

with an Amazon Tree Boa and Smoky Jungle Frogs.

Individual Animals – 1 Male

Born June 27, 2008 o Birth location: Tulsa Zoo

Arrived September 14, 2011 o From: Tulsa Zoo

Life Expectancy


Under Managed Care: approx. 20 years Statistics – Length – 4-6 feet

Females tend to be larger.

Diet – Carnivore

Wild – rodents, birds and possibly some forms of

aquatic life and lizards.

Predators

Humans, small carnivores, and birds of prey.

Habitat – Forests and savannas

Region – French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Colombia,

Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina

Reproduction

Sexual maturity between 2.5-4 years of age

Viviparous: live birth

Gestation: 5 months

Female gives birth to 12-25 babies

Adaptations

Tiny ridges on the scales act as prisms to refract light

and create a rainbow-colored effect.

Behavior – Arboreal and Crepuscular

Typically found near water.

Prehensile tails help them climb.

Conservation Concerns – The pet trade, however there is a stable population.

Conservation Ask



11

Black Ratsnake

Pantherophis obsoletus

John Ball Zoo Habitat – Located in the Natural Treasures building in a mixed species habitat

with Broad-banded Copperheads and a Timber Rattlesnake.


Hatched September 07, 2012

o Birth location: Wild (Virginia)

Arrived December 11, 2015

o From: Virginia Zoological Park

Life Expectancy


Under managed care: up to 30 years

Statistics

Length – 3.5-6 feet

Diet – Carnivore

Wild – Birds, small mammals (mainly rodents), and occasionally eggs.

Predators – No known predators.

Habitat – Savannas, grasslands, and forests.

Region – New England south through Florida and

west through the eastern halves of Texas and

Nebraska and north again to southern Wisconsin

Reproduction

Oviparous. Lays eggs 5 weeks after copulation


Offspring emerge 65-75 days after the eggs are laid.

If conditions are good, females will sometimes produce two clutches of eggs a year.

Adaptations – Rat snakes produce a foul-smelling musk and will release it on the predator if

they are picked up.


Shy, they avoid confrontations

Conservation Concerns – No major threats are known.

This snake thrives on partial deforestation. Locally, some populations have declined as a

result of extensive deforestation and various forms of intensive development.

Conservation Ask


o When you make purchases, support green companies/eco-labels

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) - paper and wood

12

Reticulated Python Malayopython reticulatus

John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building

Individual Animals – 1 Male – Trooper

Estimated Birth: 2006

o Birth location: Unknown

Arrived October 15, 2014

Life Expectancy

Insuficient data

Wild – Oldest recorded: 23 years

Under managed care – Oldest recorded: 32 years

Statistics

Weight – 375-595 pounds

Length – 15.6-29.5 feet

Females tend to be larger than males

Diet – Carnivore

Wild – Birds, mammals, reptiles

Zoo – Rats, rabbits, and chickens. Fed weekly.

Predators

Eggs and newly-hatched pythons are at risk from predators such

as small mammals, hawks, eagles, and herons.

Predation on adult pythons is very scarce and limited primarily to crocodiles.

Habitat

Tropical rainforests, wetlands, and grassland forests.

Region

Southeastern Asia and western Bangladesh to south

eastern Vietnam and on the Indo-Pacific islands west of

New Guinea.

o Some reticulated pythons have been introduced

in southern Florida, a direct result of the negative

effects of pet importation.

Reproduction – Polyandrous (Referring to females mating with

several males during one breeding season).

The reticulated python male uses vibrations to signal his

mating status to the female, who will choose whether to mate or not.

Males and female are ready to reproduce at 3-5 years of age

Breeding season is concentrated in the months of February and March

Oviparous – eggs hatch after being laid

Females can have a clutch of eggs every 1-3 years

13

Reticulated Python

Malayopython reticulatus

In a breeding year, a single female can produce 8-

107 eggs, but the number is typically 25-50 eggs.

Through a process of muscle contractions called

"shivering thermogenesis", a female reticulated

python can warm up the eggs beneath them

causing an increase in the rate of incubation and

chances of survival.

o The female python incubates the eggs in a nest for roughly 90 days.

Independence is immediate for hatchlings

Adaptations

Using pit organs, specialized organs in certain species of snakes which detect radiant

heat, Reticulated Pythons detect the location of prey by the temperature relation of the

prey to the surrounding area. This allows the python to detect prey and predators

without necessarily seeing them.

Spurs are vestigial hind limbs which are located on his abdomen.

Although uncommon, parthenogenesis has been documented in captive pythons.

o Parthenogenesis is the process of mating without a male. The female will fertilize

an egg within herself, creating offspring with identical DNA. This is an adaptation

to reproduce even when males are not present.

Newly hatched reticulated pythons use a specialized feature called an egg tooth, which

is located on the upper-lip, to open the eggshell.

Behavior

Due to the reticulated python’s great size, rectilinear movement (a type of movement

where the snake contracts its body and then unfolds in a linear motion) is more

commonly observed because it allows for greater size to move more swiftly.

Using the technique of constriction and unfolding a python can climb trees. This is more

common in smaller, younger individuals.


This species is used in the pet trade, but often they become too difficult to care for and

are released into areas that they are non-native.

Trading and selling of its skin is regulated to ensure its survival is not compromised.

Conservation Ask



14

Eyelash Palm Pitviper Bothriechis schlegelii


with Green and Black Poison Dart Frogs.


Birth: September 15, 2011 o Birth location: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

Arrived September 13, 2017 o From: Indianapolis Zoo

Life Expectancy


Under Managed Care: up to 10 years Statistics

Length – 13.7-32.2 feet

Diet – Carnivore

Frogs, lizards, birds, bats, rodents, and marsupials.

Predators – Hedgehogs, Badgers, Fox, Cats, and Humans

Habitat

Moist tropical forests, moist lowlands, and

mountain foothills.

Region

From the southernmost state in Mexico, through

northwestern Ecuador and western Venezuela. In

Central America and northern South America,

they occur in portions of Costa Rica, Panama,

Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

o This species is considered to be one of the

most widely distributed of the arboreal

vipers

Reproduction

Eyelash pit vipers reproduce throughout the year

in warm environments.

o Mating typically occurs at night.

Eggs gestate for approximately 6 months

Ovoviviparous: eggs hatch within the female.

Brood size: 2-20 young

15

Eyelash Palm Pitviper Bothriechis schlegelii

Adaptations

Venomous

Eyelash pit vipers are named for the small, bristly, keeled scales just above each eye.

The function of these "eyelashes" or horn-like

modified scales is not clear, but it has been

suggested that they protect the eyes as the

snake moves through dense vegetation.

o The “eyelashes” break up the pattern and

aids in camouflage.

Scales are tougher than other species of snake

providing protection from rough branches and

allows for a better grip when moving and

anchoring on vines.

Heat-sensitive pits set between its eyes and nostrils.

Well-developed binocular vision and pupils with long vertical slits that increase their

visual perception.

Long tongue which they "flick" in order to sense chemical changes in the air around

them.

Behavior – Nocturnal

Solitary

Ambush predators, they lay in wait camouflaged amongst leaves.


Habitat loss as a result of deforestation, agriculture, or urbanization.

Conservation Ask


o Action: When you make purchases, support green companies/eco-labels Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) - paper and wood

16

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Sistrurus catenatus catenatus

John Ball Zoo Habitat – Located in the Natural Treasures building

Individual Animals – 1 Female, 1 Male

Female – Cassie

o Birth date: Late 2014 (estimate)

o Arrived July 08, 2015

From Toronto Zoo

Male – Andy (behind the scenes)

o Birth date: Late 2014 (estimate)

o Arrived July 08, 2015

From Toronto Zoo

Life Expectancy

Average at AZA institutions: 9.4 years

Oldest recorded at AZA institutions: 19.3 years

Wild – Unknown

Statistics

Length – 1.5-3 feet

Diet – Carnivore

Wild – small mammals such as voles, white-footed mice, jumping mice, and shrews.

They sometimes also take other snakes, frogs, birds, bird eggs, and insects, especially

when they are younger and smaller.

Predators

Large snakes, hawks, herons, raccoons, foxes, and humans.

o Deer and pigs will trample rattlesnakes when they see them.

Habitat

Damp lowland habitats, including bottomland forests, swamps, bogs, fens, marshes,

sedge meadows, and wet prairies.

o The name 'massasauga' means 'great river

mouth' in the Chippewa language.

During the spring and summer months they often

move into drier, more upland habitats, such as

grasslands and farm fields.

Region

Central New York and southern Ontario to

southcentral Illinois and eastern Iowa.

17

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Sistrurus catenatus catenatus

Reproduction

Young snakes become mature at 3-4 years.

Mating occurs in the spring and fall.

Gestation lasts about 3.5 months.

They give birth to live young (viviparous).

Females give birth to 5 to 20 young in abandoned

mammal burrows or fallen logs while living in

their drier, summer habitats.

The young remain near their mother for a few days after birth and then move away.

Adaptations – Venomous

Enlarged, hollow fangs at the front of their mouth which are used to inject a modified

saliva into their prey. This saliva is venomous and causes their prey to die.

Sense organs on either side of their head that help

detect heat. They are used to locate their prey.

Behavior

Massasaugas wait until their prey is dead before eating.

They have a series of segments at the end of their tail

that are loosely connected and make a hissing rattle sound when vibrated by the snake.

All rattlesnakes have cat-like pupils which are elliptical and oriented vertically in the eye.


The eastern massasauga rattlesnake has been listed as a threatened species under

the Endangered Species Act

Massasaugas are often killed by humans when they show up near homes.

Habitat loss. Draining wetlands for farms, roads, homes, and urban expansion has

eliminated much of the massasauga habitat.

Conservation Ask

Support Global and Local Conservation Programs. John Ball Zoo participates with the

Eastern Massasauga Recovery Team. There is also a Species Survival Plan for

Massasaugas.

o Action – Donate time/money to the zoo

Volunteer, donate funds/materials, become a member, return visit, make purchase

18

South American Bushmaster

Lachesis muta muta

John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building.


Hatched January 23, 2017

o At the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Arrived February 23, 2017

o From the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Life Expectancy

Under managed care: 12-18 years on average

Statistics

Length: 6.5-11 feet

o Longest venomous snake in the Americas.

o 2nd longest venomous snake worldwide (after King Cobras).

Diet – Carnivore

Wild – Primarily small mammals, some birds, and

reptiles.

Predators

Juveniles are preyed upon by other snakes and

raptors. While adults tend to only be preyed on by

humans.

Habitat

Tropical moist forested areas.

Region

Native to several Central American and South

American countries.

Reproduction

Sexual Maturity is reached at 4 years of age.

Males find females by following a scent trail.

Oviparous – reproduction in which eggs are released by the female

o Bushmasters are the only egg-laying pit vipers in the New World.


Incubation period: 60-79 days.

o Females do not eat during this time,

but may leave the nest to drink.

Females guard their nests until the eggs

hatch.

Young are independent once they hatch.

19

South American Bushmaster

Lachesis muta muta

Adaptations

Venomous

Paired pit organs on the face, between the eye and nostril to sense infrared energy.

Behavior – Solitary

Can be crepuscular or nocturnal predators.

Bushmasters are mainly ground-living, sit-

and-wait predators; they conceal

themselves near likely areas of rodent

activity and wait for a prey animal to come

within striking range.


Deforestation and habitat destruction are the major threats for the survival of this

species.

Conservation Ask


o Actions – When you make purchases, support green companies/eco-labels

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) - paper and wood

20

Brazilian Lancehead Bothrops moojeni



Born November 10, 2013

o At the Houston Zoo

Arrived July 02, 2014

o From the Houston Zoo

Life Expectancy – Data Deficient

Statistics

Length: 5.5 feet

Diet – Carnivore

Wild – Primarily mammals, but some birds.

Predators

No known predators.

Habitat

Semi-arid, tropical savannas

Region

Brazil and Paraguay

Reproduction

Viviparous: bringing forth live young that have

developed inside the body of the parent.

Adaptations

Venomous

Behavior

Terrestrial


The species needs to be studied further.

Conservation Ask

Be thoughtful engaging and connecting with

nature

o Actions – Participate in nature friendly

behavior

Observe don’t disturb nature.

21

Mexican West Coast Rattlesnake

Crotalus basiliscus



Birth date and location: Unknown

Arrived October 11, 2009

o From Glades Herp, Inc. (Florida)

Life Expectancy – Data Deficient

Statistics – Length: 4-7 feet

This is one of the largest species of

rattlesnake.

Diet – Carnivore

Wild – Primarily mammals, but some birds.

Predators

No known predators.

Habitat

Dry, coastal cactus forest. Also, rocky areas and canyons.

Region

Western Mexico, from southern

Sonora south through Michoacan and

Guerrero.

Reproduction – Viviparous: bringing forth live

young that have developed inside the body of

the parent.

Adaptations

Venomous

Behavior

Crepuscular, but nocturnal during the warm summer month.

Basking occurs in close proximity to shelters of unused burrows and rock crevices.

Disappear quickly if disturbed.


There is some habitat destruction in parts of the range.

The species is venomous and is killed because of this.

Conservation Ask

Be thoughtful engaging and connecting with nature

o Actions – Participate in nature friendly behavior


22

Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus


with 2 Broad-banded Copperheads.


Female – Mirabell

o Birth location and date: Unknown

o Arrived January 20, 2018

From Kentucky Reptile Garden

Life Expectancy

Wild – Can live up to 30 years.

Under managed care – Can live up to 37 years.

Statistics

Weight – Males: 2lbs; Female: 1.3lbs

Length – 3-5 feet

Diet – Carnivore

Wild – Small mammals, such as mice, rats,

squirrels, rabbits, and sometimes birds

Predators

Hawks, Owls, Chickens, Turkeys, Hogs,

Bobcats, Dogs, Foxes, Skunks, and snakes.

o Most predation happens to juveniles.

Habitat – Forested rocky hills and swampy areas

Region – Eastern United States

Reproduction – Polygynous: having more than one female at a time.

Males become sexually mature at 4-6 years old.

Females become sexually mature at 7-13 years old.

Mating occurs from mid-July to October.

Females store sperm through winter for use in the spring when they emerge from

hibernation.

Females give birth in birthing rookeries,

which are often the same place they

hibernated in the winter.

Ovoviviparous, meaning that the eggs are

incubated and hatched within the female

and she gives birth to live young.

o Usually 6-10

Young are born in the autumn, August

through October and the female stays

with them for 7-10 days.

First shedding occurs at 7-10 days old, at which point they expose a button-like terminal

scale where their rattle will eventually grow.

23

Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus

Adaptations

Venomous

Timber Rattlesnakes have heat sensitive

pit organs located between the nostrils

and the eyes. They are sensitive to radiant

energy and can distinguish very slight

changes in temperature.

Behavior

Migration occurs during the summer

Hibernates for 7 months each year in dens

that accommodate 15-60 snakes.

Attack stance: The snake rises vertically with their head and neck forming an S, and

when ready they thrust with fangs exposed.

Timber rattlesnakes engage in ritualized fighting among the males which often occurs in

the periods just before mating season. They lift their bodies and wrap themselves

around each other, moving back and forth in a swaying motion, trying to pin each other

down.

They are good swimmers.


Habitat destruction

o Housing developments near rattlesnake dens are causing the most serious

problem.

Hunting and road mortality are also concerns.

Conservation Ask

Support Global and Local Conservation Programs

o Action – Donate time/money to the zoo

Volunteer Donate funds/materials (sponsor, enrichment, round up purchases) Become a member, return visit, make purchase

24

Broad-banded Copperhead

Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus


with 1 Timber Rattlesnake.

Individual Animals – 1 Male, 1 Female

Hatch date and location: Unknown

Both arrived September 17, 2010

Life Expectancy – Insuficient data, however

there are records of individuals surviving over

20 years under managed care.

Statistics – Length: 20-30 inches

Diet – Carnivore

Wild – small rodents, ground birds,

lizards, large insects, cicadas, frogs, toads, and other small snakes.

Predators

Bullfrog, alligators, snakes, opossums, hawks, and owls.

Habitat

Upland woods with sandy soil, near river bottoms and streambeds. Typically found

among dried leaves and pine needles.

Region

From central Texas north to the southern border of Kansas and Oklahoma.

Reproduction

Females are not sexually mature until they are

three years old.

Adults may mate in spring or in fall, but the eggs

are only fertilized in the spring.

The gestation period is from 3-4 months.

Viviparous – bringing forth live young that have

developed inside the body of the parent.

Females can have litters of 3-10 young.

The young are paler in pigment, and about seven to ten inches long.

Broad-banded copperheads can have one litter every year.

Once born, the snakes are on their own and are equipped to survive on their own with

venom and fully developed senses.

25

Broad-banded Copperhead

Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus

Adaptations

It has a large head to accommodate the large venom glands right before its neck region.

Venomous – Hinged fangs come out when striking its

prey or defending itself.

Excellent camouflage enables this snake to ambush its

prey.

When disturbed copperheads will emit a musk odor

from their anal glands.

Behavior

Spends the spring days basking in the sun where it will sit and wait for its prey.

During the fall, the snake becomes less active.

Juveniles are known to shake their tail and use it as a lure for animals that mistake it for

a worm.


Habitat destruction, insecticide poisoning,

automobiles have reduced populations,

however, there is no danger of extinction or of this species becoming endangered.

Conservation Ask

Be thoughtful engaging and connecting with nature

o Actions – Participate in nature friendly behavior


Animal Information Natural Treasures Snakes Treasures - Sn… · Statistics – One of the longest snakes in the Americas Length – up to 7 feet Diet – Carnivore Wild – Birds,

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