Illustrated with more than 250 dramatic original color photographs depicting not only fangs and rattles but also intricate patterns and extraordinary camouflage, <i>Rattlesnake</i> traces the evolution and behavior of the more than eighty living species and subspecies of rattlesnakes—from East Coast timber rattlesnakes to California's desert-dwelling sidewinders to South America's neotropical species. Explaining the functions of anatomical characteristics such as heat-sensitive facial pits, Manny Rubio also describes rattlesnakes' diverse habitats, feeding strategies, reproductive cycles, and seasonal hibernation patterns. Drawing on recent research and replete with never-before-published photographs, <i>Rattlesnake</i> is landmark guide for both professional and amateur herpetologists, as well as a fascinating introduction to the most maligned reptile of the Americas.