Great Basin Rattlesnake
Crotalus lutosus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Crotalus, Species: Crotalus lutosus
Western United States, primarily within the Great Basin region including Nevada, Utah, southern Idaho, eastern Oregon, eastern California, and northern Arizona.
Look up Great Basin Rattlesnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Venomous; Solenoglyphous (front-fanged with long, retractable hollow fangs).
Danger Level
Extremely Dangerous; a bite should be considered a life-threatening medical emergency. High risk of permanent tissue damage if not treated promptly.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Crotalus, Species: Crotalus lutosus
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN); however, populations face threats from habitat loss and intentional killing by humans.
Physical Description
Buff, gray, or yellowish-brown ground color with large, dark, well-defined dorsal blotches that become rings toward the tail. Triangular head, vertical pupils (heat-sensing pits present), and a keratinous rattle.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen appears to be an adult, approximately 30-40 inches long. Adults typically range from 16 to 48 inches (40-120 cm).
Habitat
Arid and semi-arid regions, sagebrush flats, rocky hillsides, and mountain forests. Found from sea level to over 9,000 feet (2,700 m) in elevation.
Behavior & Temperament
Generally shy and reclusive, preferring to avoid humans. If threatened, it will coil, rattle, and eventually strike. Primarily diurnal in spring/fall and nocturnal in mid-summer heat.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; feeds on rodents, lizards, amphibians, and occasionally small birds. Uses ambush hunting strategies assisted by heat-sensing pits and venom for immobilization.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives birth to live young); typical litter size is 3 to 13. Females often reproduce every 2-3 years depending on food availability.
Venom Profile
Complex cocktail dominated by hemotoxins (causing tissue damage and blood destruction) with some neurotoxic properties; can cause pain, swelling, and systemic effects.
Look-alikes
Gopher Snakes (Pituophis catenifer) frequently mimic rattlesnakes but lack the rattle, have round pupils, and a narrower head. Other Crotalus species like the Western Rattlesnake (C. oreganus) are closely related and physically similar.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN); however, populations face threats from habitat loss and intentional killing by humans.
Cultural Significance
A key ecological predator for controlling rodent populations. Holds significant importance in many Indigenous American cultures and is a symbol of the American West.
Notable Features
Features a sophisticated rattle used as an acoustic warning system and specialized loreal pits between the eye and nostril that detect infrared heat signatures of prey.