All rattlesnakes are part of the pit viper family.

Rattlesnakes can live in a wide variety of natural habitats. Their most common prey includes birds and rodents.

The rattle on a rattlesnake is not meant to intimidate prey but to warn off predators. While these venomous snakes are notoriously fearsome, they are eaten by hawks, weasels, and kingsnakes. They are most commonly preyed upon when they are young and immature. Many rattlesnakes are also killed either directly or indirectly by humans.

The scientific name for rattlesnakes is Crotalus, derived from the Greek word krótalon, meaning “castanets.”

The rattle of a rattlesnake is made of keratin, the same material as human fingernails.

Rattlesnakes are native to the Western Hemisphere, ranging from southern Canada to central Argentina.

Rattlesnake antivenom is created by extracting venom from rattlesnakes, injecting it into farm animals to stimulate antibody production, and then deriving the antibodies from their blood.

Rattlesnakes are commonly used by American snake handlers, a Christian religious sect that handles venomous snakes in accordance with a Bible verse stating that those with enough faith will not be harmed by serpents.

Rattlesnakes do not lay eggs—they give live birth to their young.

It is common for rattlesnakes to deliver “dry bites,” which are bites without venom. They can control how much venom they use.

Due to a natural reflex, a dead rattlesnake can still bite for a short period after death.

Rattlesnake meat is considered a niche delicacy in parts of the United States, particularly in Texas.

Rattlesnakes can go weeks, sometimes even months, without eating, depending on the size of their last meal.

There is evidence that rattlesnakes are evolving. In some areas where humans frequently kill them, certain rattlesnakes have stopped rattling, likely as a survival adaptation.