What protein constitutes the structure of the *Crotalus atrox* rattle segments?
Answer
Keratin
The rattle itself, which is added to incrementally upon complete skin shedding, is composed of keratin. Keratin is a fibrous structural protein that is noted in the context of the snake's anatomy as being the same material found in human hair and fingernails. This composition means the rattle is fundamentally made of the same organic material that forms external protective structures in mammals, although it functions purely as an acoustic warning device for the snake.
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