Royal Xenological Society, Issue #6

Crotalus venusica giganticus

(Photo lifted from Four-Color Figures - w/o permission)

The Venusian Giant Rattlesnake is a rightly-feared predator of the Venusian highlands. Named by Texian marines for their superficial similarity to common terrestrial vipers (they are serpentine, and venomous), the Venusian Rattlesnake is much more aggressive than its namesake. A bite from this enormous beast will kill a human in a matter of seconds as the hemotoxin bursts blood cells throughout the entire body. The Giant Rattlesnake appears very fond of horseflesh, and responds quickly to the sound of hoofbeats they can feel through the ground.

Notice the lack of an obvious eye structure. The Deathrattler is, in fact, blind. However, it is still able to hunt by means of vibratory location.The spines protruding from the scaled skin can detect very faint vibrations in the air - sound, essentially - at close range, acting similarly to a bat's echolocation but without using a shrill cry. The same organs also detect ground impacts from a great distance, leading the serpent to its prey.

[Editor's Note: This is a Razorspine Rattler from Wyrd Miniatures' Malifaux line. Beauty, ain't it? I have not bought one yet, because other than an interesting and dangerous random encounter, I can't justify it for wargaming. I keep trying to make it work for Vardu's biological monstrosities, but... it just doesn't seem as if it could possibly be controlled well enough. Still, it is a beautiful figure and may make its way into my collection regardless of utility.]