Aruba Rattlesnake
(Crotalus unicolor)
Facts
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IUCN CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (CR)
Facts about this animal
The Aruba rattlesnake is a small, light grey or grey-brown snake. It has overlapping dorsal scales that are a pale brown in colour and triangular in shape. The head and neck have a pair of stripes that may extend well onto the body. Adults reach a length of close to one metre.
Aruba Island Rattlesnakes are live bearers with a four month gestation. The young are about 20 cm in length and are venomous at birth.
Did you know?
that Aruba rattlesnakes have heat sensing pits which they use to locate prey?
| Factsheet | |
|---|---|
| Class | REPTILIA |
| Order | SQUAMATA |
| Suborder | SERPENTES |
| Family | CROTALIDAE |
| Name (Scientific) | Crotalus unicolor |
| Name (English) | Aruba Rattlesnake |
| Name (French) | Crotale d'Aruba |
| Name (German) | Aruba-Klapperschlange |
| Name (Spanish) | Cascabel de la Isla Aruba |
| CITES Status | Not listed |
| CMS Status | Not listed |
Photo Copyright by
Trisha Shears
Distribution
| Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Range | Aruba Island |
| Habitat | Rocky, dry areas with cactus scrubs and thorny plants |
| Wild population | It is estimated that fewer than 230 adults survive in the wild (Wikipedia 2012). |
| Zoo population | The total population registered by the International studbook (WAZA - ISB) is 223 animals (end 2004). |
In the Zoo
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How this animal should be transported
For air transport, Container Note 44 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.
Find this animal on ZooLex
Photo Copyright by
Wikipedia
Why do zoos keep this animal
The Aruba rattlesnake is listed as threatened by the US Endangered Species Act. This species is managed in North American Zoos through a Species Survival Plan (SSP) in which zoos work cooperatively with each other.