That allows vipers to have larger fangs than the size of their heads would seem to permit. Their venom is made up mostly of hemotoxins. That means the venom primarily attacks the blood stream, breaking down muscles and tissues and causing internal bleeding. The king of the pit vipers along the Funcoast, indeed, in the U.S., is the spectacular Eastern Diamondback Rattler. It's hard to confuse a Diamondback with any other creature on earth.
Adults average six feet long and have been known to approach eight feet.
Their name comes from a beautiful pattern of dark brown diamonds bordered by a creamy, off-white that runs down most of the length of their backs. Of course, there is the rattle, made up of a fingernail-like substance, on the tips of their tails. The rattles make a distinctive, loud buzzing. The buzzing is a nervous reaction when the rattler is aggravated. Anyone hearing it should be forewarned and head in opposite direction from the noise.