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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.
Conservation Concerns
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
John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building in a mixed species habitat
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
Wild: data deficient
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.
Conservation Concerns
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
o Actions – Choose your pets responsibly
8
Tiger Ratsnake Spilotes pullatus
John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building in a mixed species habitat
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
Wild: data deficient
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
Clutch size: 8-14 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.
Conservation Concerns
There is a stable population in the wild.
This species is often kept as a pet, but can be dangerous.
Conservation Ask
Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions
o Actions – Choose your pets responsibly
9
Amazon Tree Boa
Corallus hortulanus hortulanus
John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building in a mixed species habitat
with Brazilian Rain Boas and Smoky Jungle Frogs.
Individual Animals – 1 Female
Estimated Birth: July 16, 2006 o Birth location: Private collection
Arrived October 22, 2006 o From: Private donor
Life Expectancy
Wild: data deficient
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.
Behavior – Arboreal and Terrestrial
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
o Actions – Choose your pets responsibly
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
Wild: data deficient
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
Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions
o Actions – Choose your pets responsibly
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.
Individual Animals – 1 Male
Hatched September 07, 2012
o Birth location: Wild (Virginia)
Arrived December 11, 2015
o From: Virginia Zoological Park
Life Expectancy
Wild: data deficient
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
Clutch size: 12-20 eggs
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.
Behavior – Arboreal and Terrestrial
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
Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions
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.
Conservation Concerns
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
Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions
o Actions – Choose your pets responsibly
14
Eyelash Palm Pitviper Bothriechis schlegelii
John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building in a mixed species habitat
with Green and Black Poison Dart Frogs.
Individual Animals – 1 Male
Birth: September 15, 2011 o Birth location: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
Arrived September 13, 2017 o From: Indianapolis Zoo
Life Expectancy
Wild: data deficient
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.
Conservation Concerns
Habitat loss as a result of deforestation, agriculture, or urbanization.
Conservation Ask
Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions
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.
Conservation Concerns
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.
Individual Animals – 1 Male
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.
Clutch size: 5-19 eggs
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.
Conservation Concerns
Deforestation and habitat destruction are the major threats for the survival of this
species.
Conservation Ask
Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions
o Actions – When you make purchases, support green companies/eco-labels
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) - paper and wood
20
Brazilian Lancehead Bothrops moojeni
John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building.
Individual Animals – 1 Female
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
Conservation Concerns
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
John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building.
Individual Animals – 1 Female
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.
Conservation Concerns
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
Observe don’t disturb nature.
22
Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus
John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building in a mixed species habitat
with 2 Broad-banded Copperheads.
Individual Animals – 1 Female
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.
Conservation Concerns
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
John Ball Zoo Habitat – located in the Natural Treasures building in a mixed species habitat
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.
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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.
Conservation Concerns
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
Observe don’t disturb nature.