- Author: Robert J Keiffer
The Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) is the only indigenous rattlesnake found in Northern California ... or for that matter in the entire Pacific Northwest. Due to the extreme variability in appearances and subspecies, many local folks have been led to believe that there are several species of rattlesnakes in the area ...such as "timber" rattlesnakes, "diamondback" Rattlesnakes, and "sidewinders" ... but this is erroneous.
Rattlesnakes are deaf, but they can detect vibrations through their skin. They have good vision, and can smell with nasal openings and with their tongues. The forked tongue, as seen here, collects molecules and other microscopic particles from the air, ground, leaves, etc., and when the snake pulls its tongue back into its mouth it inserts the forks of the tongue into two holes in the roof of the mouth. These holes are connected to a sensory organ called the Jacobson's Organ ... which may be in a way similar to the olfactory system (smell as we know it) but is a bit different. It's kind of a built-in lab that tests for chemical compounds. This sensory organ aids a rattlesnake in tracking its prey down after the prey has been injected with toxin.