Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Aruba Island Rattlesnake



The Aruba Island Rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus unicolor) is one of the rarest rattlesnake species in the world. It is critically endangered as it is restricted to the southern tip of Aruba Island which is only 12 square kilometers around. There are estimated to only be about 230 adults left in the wild.
 Their dwindling habitat is rocky desert area sparsely covered with thorny plants. Encroachment by humans gives this serpent less and less range to live in all the time.
 They are a rattle snake, which are in the same family of snakes as vipers, so they have very long hollow fangs which they use like hypodermic needles when they bite. They inject venom and are quite lethal. By limiting their living space, they have to contend with humans and other animals invading their space.

  
Zoos they can be seen in:

Pacific region
Woodland Park Zoo Seattle, Washington
San Diego Zoo  San Diego, California

Mountain region


Central region
San Antonio Zoo San Antonio, Texas
Houston Zoo  Houston, Texas
St. Louis Zoo  St. Louis, Missouri 
Milwaukee County Zoo  Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Lincoln park Zoo  Chicago, Illinois

Eastern region
Detroit Zoo  Detroit, Michigan 
Knoxville Zoo  Knoxville, Tennessee
Cincinnati Zoo  Cincinnati, Ohio
Toledo Zoo  Toledo, Ohio
Pittsburgh Zoo  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Central Florida Zoo Sanford, Florida
Jacksonville Zoo  Jacksonville, Florida

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