found a rattler while hiking

[Pirarucu]

Lately there seems to be a trend towards rattlesnakes not rattling much, if at all. It evolved as a defense against large grazing animals that would step on them accidentally, so the rattle let the snake make its presence known. Then of course it also worked as a warning to predators. But with humans, rattling and making yourself known often results in the rattlesnake being killed. If they stay quiet, people are less likely to notice and kill them.