Sistrurus miliarius

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Sistrurus miliarius (Pigmy Rattlesnake)
Geographical Range and Habitat

• Southeastern North America
• North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida,
  Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee,
  Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and
  Missouri

• Variety of habitats
• Rocky and partially wooded hillsides, pine
  woodlands, along riverbanks, and marshes
• Anywhere close to water

• Can often be found in underground retreats.
  These burrows are not dug by the snakes, but by
  small mammals or by gopher tortoises

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Identification

• Tiny rattle and a skinny tail, rarely has more
  than a few rattles
• Rattle is so small causes the sound of the
  rattle to be similar to the buzzing of an insect
• Average size of this relatively small snake is
  12-24" (30-61cm)
• Nine plates are present on the crown of its head
• Although color varies by location, all have a
  dark line that runs vertically through the eye
  that looks similar to the eye of a cat
• 1 or 2 rows of dark, lateral spots

• Venter is cream-colored moderately flecked with
  brown or gray
• Young have a sulfur yellow tail tip
• OTHER NOTES
• Venomous
• Serious bite force