Crotalidae

/kroʊˈtælədiː/ noun

Definition

The biological family that includes rattlesnakes, pit vipers, and moccasins—venomous snakes with heat-sensing pits and often distinctive rattling tails.

Etymology

Modern Latin scientific name derived from crotalum (Latin for rattle), with the standardized family suffix -idae used in biological taxonomy.

Kelly Says

This family has over 200 species spread across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, making it one of the largest venomous snake families—and they all share that ancient Greek word for rattle in their scientific name!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.