Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this page were taken by Paul Smith, Juan Klavins, Leila K,
Arne Lesterhuis and Alberto Esquivel and are used with their permission.
TROPICAL RATTLESNAKE Crotalus durissus
It goes without saying that the Rattlesnake should be treated with the utmost of respect. It is the owner of a deadly neurotoxin that claims a massive 75% mortality if the bite is untreated, reduced to only 15% with the immediate administration of the correct anti-venin. Fortunately the Rattlesnake is a sluggish, non-aggressive beast. Venom production is energetically expensive and he is not keen to waste his reserves biting something he can´t then eat! If you come too close he will warn you, shaking the hard scales at the tip of his tail to produce a warning sound - the rattle. Provided you then back off and let the snake retreat a safe distance you are in no danger.
Click on the images to enlarge them
FIGURE 1 - Adult, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Alberto Esquivel undated - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 2 - Same individual coiled (Alberto Esquivel undated - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 3 -  Same individual dorsal view of head (Alberto Esquivel undated - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 4 - Head detail, Bahía Negra area, Departamento Alto Paraná (Juan Klavins undated).
FIGURE 5 - Adult, Estancia Cardúz, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith November 2005).
FIGURE 6 - Adult found dead, banks of Pilcomayo (Paul Smith March 2005).
FIGURE 7 - Adult dorsal view, Campo Maria Private Nature Reserve, Cuenca Upper Yacaré Sur (Arne Lesterhuis July 2004)
FIGURE 8 - Detail of rattle, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Alberto Esquivel undated - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 9 - Juvenile,  PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Leila K August 2008 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 10 - Juvenile camouflaged,  PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Leila K August 2008 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 11 - Juvenile fangs,  PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Leila K August 2008 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 1

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2

FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3

FIGURE 3
FIGURE 4

FIGURE 4
FIGURE 5

FIGURE 5
FIGURE 6

FIGURE 6
FIGURE 7

FIGURE 7
FIGURE 8

FIGURE 8
FIGURE 9

FIGURE 9
FIGURE 10

FIGURE 10
FIGURE 11

FIGURE 11