"I sculpted this as a tribute to my favorite snake. They're not the prettiest or the biggest but I've always loved their surprisingly beautiful faces. They are arguably the most evolved in the snake world in that their rattle is a very advanced early warning system. In addition they have 'heat seeking' sensory pits just below and behind the nostrils. These organs allow them to locate the position and range of prey in the darkness enabling them to strike accurately. Their fangs are hypodermic needles to deliver venom and they are hinged to fold backwards when the mouth is closed. I have always been drawn to the American South West where these snakes are most abundant. Perhaps it's some residual familiarity from a past life."