Crotalinae

/kroʊtəˈlɪniː/ noun

Definition

A subfamily of pit vipers within Crotalidae, including rattlesnakes and some non-rattling vipers, found in the Americas.

Etymology

Modern Latin subfamily designation based on crotalum (rattle) with the biological subfamily suffix -inae, indicating a subdivision of the family Crotalidae.

Kelly Says

Surprisingly, not all snakes in this subfamily have rattles—some lost their rattles through evolution, showing that a name can outlast the feature it describes!

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