Discover the Largest Rattlesnake Ever

The eastern diamondback rattlesnake’s scientific name, Crotalus adamanteus, is literally translated as “rattlesnake diamond.” They are the largest and heaviest rattlesnakes in the world. So, it should come as no surprise that the largest rattlesnake ever recorded was also an eastern diamondback. Keep reading to learn more about these incredible snakes and discover the largest rattlesnake ever.

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes

Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes are a venomous species of pit viper found only in the southeastern United States. Their range is between the east coast of North Carolina and the Mississippi River and south to the Florida Keys. These snakes are carnivores and prey primarily on a variety of rodents and other small mammals. Although mammals are their preferred diet, they will occasionally eat lizards and frogs. Adult rattlers have few natural predators, but juveniles are a frequent food source for raccoons, other snakes, and birds of prey.

Eastern diamondbacks thrive in a variety of different habitats, ranging from deserts to woodlands, and even swamps. They are very good swimmers and can easily travel between islands in the Florida Keys. Their rattles are made out of keratin — the same substance as human fingernails. Their venom can be deadly, but these snakes are not naturally aggressive and prefer to avoid humans and pets.

How Large Do Most Rattlesnakes Get?

Although there have been some rattlesnakes that measured around seven feet, most rattlesnakes are under six feet in length. Eastern diamondbacks typically grow from 3-6 feet, but larger individuals have been recorded. Western diamondbacks can reach 4-6 feet, while the record for a timber rattlesnake is 6.2 feet in length. Most rattlesnakes weigh from 1-6 pounds, but some larger eastern diamondback rattlesnakes can weigh over 10 pounds.

The Largest Rattlesnake on Record

In 1946, an eastern diamondback specimen was shot by a hunter, identified by only the singular name Rutledge in the 1982 Guinness Book of World Records. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake measured 7 feet 9 inches in length, the longest rattlesnake ever on record. His kill weighed 34 pounds, which is about as large as a medium-sized dog. There is no other information about the snake or the hunter, nor any mention of where the animal was killed. However, the eastern diamondback is only found in the southeastern United States.

While it is purported that these snakes can reach lengths of up to eight feet, no snake of that size, when appropriately measured from the nose to the base of the rattle, has ever been located. Two eastern diamondback specimens supposedly longer than the record holder were killed in Florida. However, their reported lengths, both in excess of eight feet, have been called into question. It is suspected the snakes were actually measured to the tip of the rattle instead of merely to the base, as is the standard. Guinness World Records still lists the snake killed by Rutledge as the largest on record.

The Largest Albino Eastern Diamondback

In February 2021, the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens announced it had a rattlesnake named Edgar that was over seven feet long. Edgar, who was born in captivity, weighed 20 pounds and was 7 feet 4 inches long. However, he was even more of a rarity due to his coloration. Edgar the snake was also an albino, meaning he had no pigmentation in his skin or eyes. He unfortunately passed away in 2023 at the age of 21, but Edgar is believed to be the largest albino eastern diamondback rattlesnake on record.