Juvenile Southern Pacific Rattler found near Suicide Rock above Idyllwild CA.
Myself and a few friends of mine were hiking in Kennedy Grove when we stumbled across a rattlesnake. I was almost bitten by it, but luckily jumped back in time. I didn't get a picture of the snake in the excitement.
The Viperidae are a family of venomous snakes found all over the world, except in Antarctica, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Madagascar, Hawaii, various other isolated islands and above the Arctic Circle. All have relatively long, hinged fangs that permit deep penetration and injection of venom. Four subfamilies are currently recognized.
