Rattlesnake (Crotalus spp.)

Renowned for its ominous warning rattle, the rattlesnake is a New World pit viper and a master of ambush predation. Its highly potent hemotoxic venom rapidly destroys tissue and disrupts blood clotting, causing severe damage to its prey. Equipped with heat-sensing pits to accurately strike warm-blooded animals even in darkness, it is a highly efficient predator. While not aggressively seeking conflict with humans, its formidable defensive capabilities and widespread distribution across the Americas solidify its status as one of the continent's most iconic and medically significant venomous snakes.