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Diamondback Snakes in Georgia

There are three species of diamondback rattlesnake -- the eastern diamondback, the western diamondback and the red diamond. Only one of these species -- the eastern diamondback rattlesnake -- lives in Georgia. It is the biggest of all the rattlesnake species, including the other diamondback rattlesnakes. All rattlesnakes are part of the Crotalinae -- pit viper -- sub family of vipers.

Appearance
- Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes have thick bodies and heads. They can grow to be up to 6 feet long and weigh more than 10 lbs. The main color of their bodies ranges from yellowish to dark brown. Light tan or yellowish lines define the diamond shapes that run along the back of these snakes. The inside of the diamonds are brown and/or black patterns. Two yellowish or light tan lines run diagonally down both sides of the heads of eastern diamondbacks.
Life Cycle and Diet
- Mating season for eastern diamondback rattlesnakes occurs from July to October. Females give birth to an average of 14 live young in burrows. When eastern diamondback rattlesnakes are born, they are between 12 and 15 inches in length and are born with venom and fangs. Their mothers do not care for them and as soon as they shed for the first time, they leave the nest. As diamondbacks grow, they eat rodents, small mammals and birds, however, they do not eat a lot. These snakes only need between two and six animals a year for them to survive. During the winter, diamondbacks do not eat at all. The Georgia snakes can live for up to 10 years in the wild.
Range
- The range of the eastern diamondback species goes from southern North Carolina to eastern Louisiana and down into all of Florida. Southern Georgia is one of this species' most populated areas. The areas it inhabits are dry, grassy, sandy or forested. It may also be found near swamps. The range of individual eastern diamondback rattlesnakes males is as many as 500 acres.
Venom and Fangs
- The fangs of eastern diamondback rattlesnakes are the largest in relation to their body size than all other venomous snakes in North America. The fangs hinge, so they fold back when their mouths close. The venom that the fangs inject is a hemotoxin. While neurotoxins are venoms that attack the nervous system, hemotoxins attack the circulatory system and muscle tissue. Hemotoxin kills red blood cells and destroys tissue. An eastern diamondback rattlesnake bite can easily kill a human, however, there is an effective anti-venom for it.

Animals & Science