April 17, 2016

Did you know that a rattlesnake's tail is made of the same material in your hair and nails? That's right! The rattle is made up of layers of keratin. The snake contracts special muscles to shake its rattle and the sound is amplified because the segments are hollow. When a rattlesnake is born, its "pre-button" falls off and the "button" is formed. As a rattle snake ages and sheds its skin, new layers are formed over the "button". However the number of layers is not a good indication of the snake's age because the rattle is prone to damage and can even fall off.