Lincoln Park Zoo

Common name: Aruba Island rattlesnake
Latin Name: Crotalus durissus unicolor

Class: Reptiles & Amphibians
Order:    Serpentes

Description
Aruba Island rattlesnakes range from gray to brown. The head and neck are adorned with stripes, which can extend down the body. They can grow to to three feet in length.

Range
As their name implies, Aruba Island rattlesnakes are found in their titular island off the coast of Venezuela.

Status
Aruba Island rattlesnakes are listed as threatened. Lincoln Park Zoo participates in the Aruba Island Rattlesnake Species Survival Plan®, a shared conservation effort by zoos throughout the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Habitat
They are found on rocky hillsides and sandy fields.

Niche
Nocturnal during the warmer months, Aruba Island rattlesnakes are active in early morning and late afternoon during the rest of the year. Their diet includes small rodents, birds and lizards.

Life History
These snakes have small litters of live young. The young are eight inches in length and have fully functioning venom glands at birth. They can live as long as 20 years.

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Special Adaptations

  • Heat sensing pits help the snake locate prey.
  • The rattle at the end of the tail warns off enemies and acts as a first line of defense for the Aruba Island rattlesnake.