Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius)

The Pygmy Rattlesnake lives in the southeastern United States. It is small and stout, stretching only 15 to 25 inches long. Its skin displays a series of reddish-brown blotches against a grey body.

They thrive in various environments, and their diet consists of small rodents, lizards, and frogs. Their venom keeps their prey’s population in check. 

This type of rattlesnake produces cytotoxic venom that, while low in volume, is tissue-toxic and can cause hemorrhaging. The venom lacks neurotoxins but has extensive amounts of serotonin and tryptamine compounds, which led to the creation of the heart attack drug called eptifibatide4.