Diamondback rattlesnake with no diamonds? Extremely rare mutant found in North Florida

As if 2020 wasn’t weird enough, Florida wildlife officials say they found a mutant eastern diamondback rattlesnake that is devoid of the intricate diamond patterns people need to identify the venomous species.

The “patternless” snake was caught in northern Florida and the state’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute shared a photo on Facebook showing it could easily be mistaken for another species — except for the fact it had a rattle on its tail.

“This color morph is exceptionally rare — only a small handful of patternless diamondbacks have been documented by biologists,” the institute posted Sept. 23.

“It is very likely that this patternless trait is heritable, given that it has popped up several times in this population and it’s likely that both parents need to contribute one or more recessive (‘hidden’) gene copies to create patternless offspring.”

State biologist Pierson Hill fitted the 30-inch-long snake with a microchip and released it “for identification for researchers in the future.”

Diamondback rattlesnakes grow to 6 feet in Florida and can weigh 10 pounds, the state reports. The species “can strike a distance up to two-thirds of their body length,” which is why experts recommend they be “left alone when encountered.”

Eastern diamondbacks get their name from a distinctive pattern of “yellow with brown diamonds down the back which are outlined in cream,” the state says.

“Eastern diamondbacks have an important role in controlling rodent populations ... They have been documented eating prey weighing as much as 85% the snake’s body weight!” the state posted.

Reaction to the state’s photo has been a mix of fascination and concern that people may need to change their approach to identifying venomous rattlesnakes in the yard.

“Don’t go by the pattern. Go by the tail,” Sandy Sparks wrote on Facebook.

“An eastern diamondback rattlesnake without the diamond pattern. If 2020 was (a) snake, this would be it,” Ron Tulin commented.

“Now this is serious. Everybody need(s) to share this and ... look at the difference,” Raleigh Strickland posted. “I wouldn’t comprehend ... that was a rattlesnake.”

This story was originally published September 23, 2020 at 1:14 PM with the headline "Diamondback rattlesnake with no diamonds? Extremely rare mutant found in North Florida."