Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Crotalus, Species: Crotalus atrox
Found primarily in the southwestern United States (including Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) and northern Mexico (ranging down into central Mexico).
Look up Western Diamondback Rattlesnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Crotalus, Species: Crotalus atrox
Conservation
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its wide distribution and large, stable overall population, though it faces local threats from habitat fragmentation, vehicular mortality, and intentional persecution.
Physical Description
Features a heavy-bodied build with distinctly keeled scales creating a rough texture. The coloration is generally grayish-brown, yellowish-brown, or pinkish-gray, overlaid with a series of dark, diamond-shaped blotches bordered by lighter scales along the back. The head is broad and triangular, distinctly wider than the neck, with vertical pupils and visible facial pits between the eye and nostril.
Size & Dimensions
This individual appears to be an adult of moderate size, roughly 90 to 120 cm in length. Typical adults range from 90 to 150 cm, with maximum recorded lengths approaching 210 cm.
Habitat
Occupies a wide variety of arid and semi-arid habitats, including desert flats, rocky hillsides, coastal chaparral, and grassy plains, typically ranging from sea level up to elevations around 2,000 meters.
Diet & Feeding
Predominantly feeds on small mammals such as rodents (rats and mice), rabbits, and occasionally ground-dwelling birds. It is an ambush hunter that relies on patience, striking its prey and tracking it until incapacitation before consuming.
Reproduction
Viviparous species, giving birth to live young. Mating typically occurs in the spring, and females produce litters ranging from 5 to 25 young in late summer or autumn.
Look-alikes
Frequently confused with other rattlesnake species within its range, such as the Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) and the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus), but can be distinguished by the alternating black and white bands on its tail and specific facial markings.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its wide distribution and large, stable overall population, though it faces local threats from habitat fragmentation, vehicular mortality, and intentional persecution.
Cultural Significance
Plays an important ecological role as a top predator in controlling rodent populations. It holds significant cultural prominence in the folklore, art, and symbolism of the indigenous peoples and modern cultures of the American Southwest.
Notable Features
Features highly specialized heat-sensing pit organs located between the eye and nostril, allowing it to detect warm-blooded prey in complete darkness, alongside the characteristic caudal rattle used as a defensive warning signal.