Rattlesnake

With rattling alarms at one end and venomous fangs at the other, rattlesnakes are among nature's most feared and mysterious creatures. Although fewer than a dozen people in the United Sates die of snakebite each year, human misunderstanding has led to exaggerated tales of rattlesnake ferocity and to wholesale destruction that has depleted the population of many species. Illustrated with more than 250 dramatic original colour photographs depicting not only fangs and rattles but also intricate patterns and extraordinary camouflage, "Rattlesnake" traces the evolution and behaviour of the 83 living species of rattlesnakes - from East Coast timber rattlesnakes to California's desert-dwelling sidewinders to South America's neotropical species. Explaining the functions of anatomical characteristics such as heat-sensitive facial pits, Manny Rubio also describes rattlesnakes' diverse habitats, feeding strategies, reproductive cycles, and seasonal hibernation patterns. The author discusses human interaction with rattlesnakes, explaining the snakes' roles in native American and fundamentalist religions, their history as a symbol of predatory power, their fate at the hands of roundup hunters, and the commercial uses to which their skins, venom, and meat are put. Emphasizing rattlesnakes' reticence and their importance in controlling small rodent population, he calls for more widespread efforts to preserve them. Drawing on recent research and replete with never-before-published photographs, this work is a landmark guide for both professional and amateur herpetologists, as well as an introduction to the most malign reptile of the Americas.