Food Capture-They hunt mainly at night. They have special pits on the sides of their heads that allow them to sense heat from other animals. While tracking preys heat signature they flick tongue in and out to smell prey.
Food Digestion- In their poison there are some digestive enzymes that start digestion before the snake begins to devour the prey whole. Jaw is not fixed as a humans, they have very flexible joints.
Gas Exchange- The trachea, bronchi, and the two lungs are used during gas exchange. Trachea is the windpipe(small hole on bottom of the mouth). Air that goes to the left bronchi goes to the left lung, vestigial. Right bronchi and lung work normally, transferring air to the blood stream.
Circulation- Circulatory system is like a humans, but the heart has 3 chambers with 2 small atria and 1 large ventricle. Functions like a 4 chambered heart. Blood from tail passes through kidney before going back into the bloodstream.
Immune System- No lymph nodes. Contain bone marrow, spleen, pancreas, and gall bladder.
Diseases- They are affected by bacterial diseases and infections. Illnesses that they can catch include mouth rot, parasites, blister disease, and respiratory infections.
Homeostasis-Rattlesnakes rely on the outside temperature to maintain homeostasis. No internal means of regulation for their metabolisms. If they are cold they become sluggish, and if they are hot they speed up and use the excess energy.
Thermoregulation- They are cold-blooded, and completely rely on outside sources to stay warm and keep from overheating.
Reproduction- They participate in wrestling matches to earn a mate. The egg is carried inside the female's body. Their gestation period is about 3-4 months,, and give birth to anywhere between 5-20 snakes. Some species can hold sperm for up to a year before conception.
Movement- Rectilinear-face straight ahead, uses ribs like a caterpillar would use its legs. A type of movement that they do is serpentine, which is where they move in a back and forth motion . They grip irregularities on the found and push off. Another way they move is side winding, which is where they throw a loop of their body forward, grip, and flip the rest of their body forward.
Location- They are native to Americas. Some are found as north as BritishColumbia and others found near central Argentina.