Young rattlesnakes are live born. They must fend for themselves and are capable of biting and injecting venom within minutes of emerging. It is not until the after the first skin shedding that a rattlesnake produces its first rattle segment, called a button. With each shedding of its skin, a new segment is added.
Mexican West Coast Rattlesnake
Crotalus basiliscus
Fact File
Where to see them: Reptile House
Length: Up to 6.7 ft
Venomous: Venomous
Habitat: Coastal plains, rocky areas and woodlands
Diet: Mammals, birds and lizards
Rattle Size: As rattle segments often break off, mature rattlesnakes generally have five or six segments at any given time.
