Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Crotalus, Species: Crotalus atrox
Southwestern United States (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada) and Northern to Central Mexico and islands in the Gulf of California.
Look up Western Diamondback Rattlesnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Crotalus, Species: Crotalus atrox
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN). Populations are stable, though they face threats from habitat loss and 'rattlesnake roundups' in parts of their range.
Physical Description
Heavy-bodied snake with a triangular-shaped head and vertical pupils. Basic color ranges from grey to tan with dark diamond-shaped blotches along the back. The most diagnostic feature is the 'coon tail'—alternating black and white rings just before the rattle.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen appears to be an adult, approximately 3.5 to 4.5 feet long. Species averages 3 to 5 feet, with rare records exceeding 7 feet.
Habitat
Arid and semi-arid regions including deserts, grasslands, pine-oak forests, and rocky canyons. Found from sea level up to 2,400 meters elevation.
Diet & Feeding
Active forager and ambush predator. Preys primarily on small mammals (rabbits, gophers, mice), birds, and lizards. It strikes, releases, and tracks the scent of the dying prey.
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous (gives birth to live young). Typical litter size is 4 to 25 young. Breeding occurs in the spring after emerging from hibernation, with young born in late summer.
Look-alikes
Mohave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) has narrower black rings on the tail and different head scales; Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) lacks the distinct diamond pattern and coon tail; Gopher Snakes (Pituophis catenifer) mimic the rattle but lack the fangs and have round pupils.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN). Populations are stable, though they face threats from habitat loss and 'rattlesnake roundups' in parts of their range.
Cultural Significance
Iconic symbol of the American Southwest. Important ecological role in controlling rodent populations. Historically featured in Native American art and folklore.
Notable Features
Features loreal pits (heat-sensing organs) between the eye and nostril used to locate warm-blooded prey in the dark. The rattle is composed of interlocking keratin segments that add a new link with each skin shed.