: any of several American pit vipers (genera Crotalus and Sistrurus) that have horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when shaken
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When threatened, gopher snakes often flatten their heads and hiss loudly, mimicking rattlesnakes to deter predators.—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025 Fans can get up close to the rams, dinosaur and rattlesnake and majestic as well as two new sculptures that will go to Borrego Springs in November.—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025 These are one of four venomous snakes found in Texas alongside rattlesnakes, cottonmouths (also known as water moccasins) and coral snakes.—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025 Pygmy rattlesnakes are found near water and sometimes in rocky uplands, pine woods and glades, according to the TWRA.—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rattlesnake
: any of the American pit vipers that have a series of horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when vibrated and that comprise the genera Sistrurus and Crotalus see diamondback rattlesnake, tiger rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake
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