Rattlesnake vs. Rat | National Geographic

one of the deserts most deadly hunters
is on the prowl it can grow up to seven
feet long and comes equipped with long
fangs capable of delivering a potent
venom the western diamondback
rattlesnake about 30 species of
rattlesnake live in the Western
Hemisphere rattlesnakes are pit vipers
so called because of the heat sensing
pits located on either side of their
heads these help the snakes locate prey
even in the dead of night but they’re
even better known for the hiss of their
famous tales one quick rattle and any
predators instantly know to stay away
far away the rattlesnake also has a
potent sense of smell but it doesn’t
just follow its nose the forked tongue
picks up odor particles from the air as
it flicks in and out and passes them
over an organ in the roof of the mouth
but essentially both smells and tastes
this snake has sniffed out the perfect
place for an ambush
with one strike the rattlesnake injects
toxic venom into the rat which attacks
the bloodstream soon the rat is
immobilized and dinner is served
rattlesnakes swallow their prey whole
slowly digesting the food as it moves
through the body an adult rattler will
generally eat only once every two weeks
which is good news for the remaining
local rodents