Black rattlesnake, Black diamond rattlesnake, Brown rattlesnake, Cerberus rattlesnake, Mountain diamond-back, Timber rattlesnake (incorrectly)
The Arizona black rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus) is a venomous pit viper species found in the southwestern United States. Like all other vipers, this species is distinguished by the presence of a heat-sensing pit organ located between the eye and the nostril on both sides of the head.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OvoviviparousOvoviviparity, ovovivipary, ovivipary, or aplacental viviparity is a term used as a "bridging" form of reproduction between egg-laying oviparous an...
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Ambush predatorAmbush predators are carnivorous animals that capture or trap prey by stealth, luring, or by (typically instinctive) strategies utilizing an elemen...
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VenomousVenom is a type of poison, especially one secreted by an animal. It is delivered in a bite, sting, or similar action. Venom has evolved in terrestr...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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HibernatingHibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy charac...
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starts withThe color pattern of these snakes consists of a dark grayish, brownish black, reddish brown, or blackish ground color, overlaid with a dorsal pattern of blotches that are rectangular anteriorly, becoming subhexagonal posteriorly, eventually becoming crossbands just before the tail. However, specimens also may be a uniform dark color without any clear dorsal pattern, or the dorsal blotches may be even darker and bordered with white, cream, or yellow transverse rows of scales, or the color pattern may be quite pale with a significant amount of yellow mixed in. A postocular stripe is evident in lightly colored specimens, but not so much in darker ones. Arizona black rattlesnakes undergo morphological color change (gradual change due to changes in the number or quality of chromatophores); adults are less patterned than juveniles (also called ontogenetic color change). Some adults can change color relatively quickly, an ability shared not only with chameleons and other lizards but also with other snakes such as some species in the genus Tropidophis. The mechanism for their physiological color change is likely the same as that documented in the closely related Prairie rattlesnake (melanin movement within their dermal melanophores), but further research is needed to determine the stimuli for this phenomenon in this rattlesnake.
Arizona black rattlesnakes are found in the United States, in Arizona from the Hualapai Mountains and Cottonwood Cliffs in the northwest of the state, southeast to the Santa Catalina, Rincon, Pinaleno, and Blue Mountains. They are also found at Steeple Rock, in extreme western New Mexico. These snakes inhabit woodlands, conifer forests, chaparral, semi-desert, and in or near rocky slopes.
Arizona black rattlesnakes spend their life on the ground and are usually active during the day. However, when the temperatures get very high they can switch to nocturnal activity. Arizona black rattlesnakes usually spend their time singly but may hibernate communally when the weather gets cold. Females also give birth in groups in communal dens.
Arizona black rattlesnakes are carnivores. They prey on mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and their eggs.
Females of this species bear live young in broods of 4 to 21 neonates. Arizona black rattlesnakes are the first species of snake that exhibit complex social behavior, and like all temperate pit vipers, care for their babies. Females remain with their young in nests for 7 to 14 days, and mothers have been observed cooperatively parenting their broods.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...