When a rodent runs past, the snake explodes outward four times faster than a human can blink. It stabs the rodent with its fangs and injects venom. The toxins usually take a while to work, and since rodents have sharp teeth, the snake avoids injury by releasing its prey and letting it run off. After several minutes, it starts flicking its tongue to track down the now-dead victim. The venom helps. Aside from lethal toxins, rattlesnake venom also includes compounds called disintegrins, which aren’t toxic but react with a rodent’s tissues to release odorants.
