Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
The Eastern Diamondback is the largest venomous snake in the United States and it may also be the largest rattlesnake in the world. Some have recorded this snake’s length as long as eight feet and weighing up to 35 pounds and due to its size, it can be quite dangerous to humans. The fatality rate is 10-20% but at one time the rates were as high as 30%.
This intimidating snake comes with ginormous fangs that can be up to an inch long and can pump up to 450 mg of venom. Interestingly enough it only takes less than 150 mg to kill a human. It’s a good thing that doses of CroFab anti-venin can effectively treat people with diamondback rattlesnake bites.
Its prime habitat is in coastal areas of Florida, lower southeastern areas in the U.S. and can be found in pine forests, mountains, and dry marshes in these areas. The defined black diamond patterns offset by the yellow colors can help you identify this snake as well as its loud rattle which can be heard from quite a ways away. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful, however. Just like with any rattlesnake it’s still possible for this snake to strike without warning you first.
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Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake
The yellow-bellied sea snake is not exclusive to the oceans in North America, and luckily there have not been any fatalities in the U.S. from this snake. However, its venom is still extremely potent with potential human-lethal doses.
This snake prefers to be in warm ocean waters and it frequently goes into the Pacific ocean starting in Washington down into South America. It rarely comes ashore and gives birth in the seas where it is calm and sometimes in tidal pools. It does not venture into freshwater and is seldom seen on land.
Females can be up to three feet long and males stay around 28 inches. Its main coloring is a divided brown or yellow underwise with a dark brown upper body. Some are almost all yellow and others can have thin black stripes along their belly.
