- Where to see one
- 4 U.S. zoos in our directory hold rattlesnake, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
This species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, so it sits outside the threat scale entirely.
About the rattlesnake
Rattlesnakes, the genus Crotalus, are heavy-bodied pit vipers found only in the Americas, from southern Canada to northern Argentina. Between 44 and 53 species are recognized. They range from about 50 to 70 cm in the smallest species to over 150 cm in the eastern and western diamondbacks. Most are identified by the rattle on the tail, a chain of interlocking hollow shells. No species is considered aggressive, and most retreat when threatened, though they defend themselves when cornered. Smaller species eat mainly lizards, while larger ones switch from lizards as juveniles to mainly mammals as adults. They give birth to live young.
Rattlesnake facts
- The rattle grows as each molt adds a new interlocking segment to the tail.
- Crotalus catalinensis, an island species, has lost its rattle entirely.
- They rarely strike further than half of their body length.
- The name Crotalus comes from a Greek word meaning rattle or castanet.
Where to see rattlesnake in the U.S.
4 zoos across 3 states
Find the closest one
Rank the 3 zoos holding rattlesnake by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.
1 more zoo holds rattlesnake but has no coordinates on file yet, so it isn't ranked here. It's in the full list below.
California· 2
Pennsylvania· 1
West Virginia· 1
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Built from each zoo's own published animal list.
