The rattlesnake has a reputation as a dangerous and deadly snake with a fierce hatred for humanity. Although the rattlesnake is indeed a venomous snake capable of killing a human, its nature has perhaps been somewhat exaggerated in myth and folklore. The rattlesnake is not inherently aggressive and generally strikes only when it has been put on the defensive. In its defensive posture the rattlesnake raises the front part of its body off the ground and assumes an S-shaped form in preparation for a lunge forward. At the end of a forward thrust, the rattlesnake pushes its fangs into the victim, thereby injecting its venom. There are more than 30 species of rattlesnakes, varying in length from 20 inches to 6 feet and also varying in toxicity of venom. In the United states there are only a few deaths annually from rattlesnakes, with a mortality rate of less than 2 percent of those attacked.