Aruba Island rattlesnake

At the Detroit Zoo
The Aruba Island rattlesnake can be found inside the Holden Reptile Conservation Center, located near the middle of the park. There, visitors can learn about the 70 different species (and approximately 275 individuals) of reptiles at the Detroit Zoo, one-fifth of which are considered threatened or endangered in the wild.

Description
One of the rarest rattlesnakes in the world, its small body and brown color make it very hard to see in the wild. Its unique V-shaped head indicates that it belongs to the viper family.

Scientific name: Crotalus unicolor
Continent: South America
Habitat: Mostly dry, rocky areas near cactuses and other thorny plants
Size: 3 feet in length
Weight:  20-25 ounces
Diet: Small rodents, birds and lizards
Reproduction: Mating season lasts from September to January. Unlike most snakes, the Aruba Island rattlesnake gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs. It can have five to nine young in one litter.
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

FUN FACTS

Its first line of defense is the rattle on its tail.

It has heat-sensing pits near its nose to locate prey while hunting.