Aruba Island rattlesnake

At the Detroit Zoo

One of the rarest rattlesnakes in the world, its small body and brown color make it very hard to see in the wild. Its V-shaped head indicates that it belongs to the viper family.


Scientific name: Crotalus unicolor
Continent: North America
: Mostly dry, rocky areas near cactuses and other thorny plants
: 3 feet in length
Weight:  20-25 ounces
Diet: Small rodents, birds and lizards
Reproduction: Mating season lasts from September to January. Unlike most snakes, the Aruba Island rattlesnake gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs. It can have five to nine young in one litter.
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Conservation Status: Critically Endangered




Its first line of defense is the rattle on its tail.

It has heat-sensing pits near its nose to locate prey while hunting.