Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

Crotalus adamanteus

Silhouette: Bill Bouton (source photo) & T. Michael Keesey (vectorization) · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR Endemic
Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Everglades National Park

In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%

244 Verified sightings at Everglades National Park From 2019 to 2026
417 In all 3 parks
October Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

The eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) is a species of pit viper in the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to the Southeastern United States. It is the largest rattlesnake species and one of the heaviest venomous snakes in the Americas. No subspecies are recognized.

The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest rattlesnake species and is one of the heaviest known species of venomous snake, with one specimen shot in 1946 measuring 2.4 m (7.8 ft) in length and weighing 15.4 kg (34 lb). However, other venomous snakes may rival this species in weight such as the much longer but more slender king cobra and the shorter but even bulkier Gaboon viper. Maximum reported lengths for the eastern diamondback rattlesnake are 2.4 m (8 ft) and 2.5 m (8.25 ft). However, the stated maximum sizes have been called into question due to a lack of voucher specimens. Demonstrating rare reverse sexual size dimorphism, males are typically larger than females.

Specimens over 2.1 m (7 ft) are rare, but well documented. Klauber (1998) included a letter he received from E. Ross Allen in 1953, in which Allen explains how for years he offered a reward of $100, and later... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Recording0:04

United States · 2026

© rbbirdss · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0

Recording0:11

United States · 2023

© eando0923 · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
~30%
2 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~30%
3 Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge 🇺🇸 United States
~10%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Disney's Animal Kingdom 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
2 Busch Gardens Tampa 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
3 San Diego Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
4 Prague Zoo 🇨🇿 Czechia In captivity
5 National Zoological Park 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
6 Denver Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
7 Skansen 🇸🇪 Sweden In captivity
8 Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
9 California Academy of Sciences 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
10 Australia Zoo 🇦🇺 Australia In captivity
11 Greensboro Science Center 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
12 Lion Country Safari 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
13 Columbus Zoo and Aquarium 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
14 Bronx Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
15 Dallas Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
16 Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
17 Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
18 Birmingham Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
19 Louisville Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
20 Guadalajara Zoo 🇲🇽 Mexico In captivity
21 Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
22 Saint Louis Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
23 Night Safari 🇸🇬 Singapore In captivity
24 ZooTampa 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
25 Fort Worth Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
26 Taronga Zoo 🇦🇺 Australia In captivity
27 Singapore Zoo 🇸🇬 Singapore In captivity
28 Houston Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
29 Melbourne Zoo 🇦🇺 Australia In captivity
30 Philadelphia Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
31 Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden 🇭🇺 Hungary In captivity
32 Faunia 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
33 Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
34 Riverbanks Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
35 Buffalo Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
36 River Wonders 🇸🇬 Singapore In captivity
37 Parc Jardins du Monde 🇫🇷 France In captivity
38 Henry Vilas Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
39 Safari Masai Mara 🇲🇽 Mexico In captivity
40 Alligator Adventure 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
41 Reptile Gardens 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
42 ZooAmerica 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
43 Greenville Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
44 Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
45 Staten Island Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
46 Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
47 Clyde Peeling's Reptiland 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
48 North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
49 South Carolina Aquarium 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
50 Baltic Sea Science Center 🇸🇪 Sweden In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake in Everglades National Park?

Possible

About 30% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake sighting in Everglades National Park on a given day, based on 244 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 15th most-seen of the 54 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake in Everglades National Park?

September–October and December

In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake in Everglades National Park on a given day, against about 20% in June to August, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake?

Between 4 and 7 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Everglades National Park the best place to see an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake?

Among the best

Of the 3 parks where we can rate Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake sightings, Everglades National Park ranks 2nd at about 30%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Big Cypress National Preserve (United States, about 30%).

Which relatives of the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake live in Everglades National Park?

Same family: Viperidae

The closest relatives of the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake that you can see in Everglades National Park (family Viperidae, Vipers) are Florida Cottonmouth (about 50%) and Pygmy Rattlesnake (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Everglades National Park (244 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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