An Arizona Black Rattlesnake from the western end of their range. Locals in the area often refer to them as “timber rattlers”, though actual Timber Rattlesnakes are a distinct species that is not found in the western states. This one was found on a relatively cold, rainy weekend in August, active on the surface just before the area was saturated.
A big Rainforest Hognosed Pitviper from the high forests of Guatemala a couple of years go. These are impressive little snakes that are nearly invisible in forest floor leaf litter.
The weird little face of a strange little snake. The Spotted Leafnosed Snake can be found in natural desert areas. Often, they are the only snakes moving on hot, dry, full moon nights in May and June, on the hunt for lizard eggs. The specialized scale on its nose, shaped like a leaf, helps it push through sand and soil to find them.
When disturbed, these small snakes may whip around, hissing and repeatedly faking a strike … though if you see it in slow motion, their mouths are closed the whole time. This is not a snake that bites.
A Blacktailed Rattlesnake from central Arizona. These snakes are often a green shade, leading to misidentification as a Mojave Rattlesnake (which, ironically, are seldom green in many areas). These are large rattlesnakes that live in mountainous terrain, commonly seen by hikers but rarely by homeowners.
We saw this Panamint Rattlesnake crossing a road with a bulge from a recent successful hunt. It had likely just happened, and we were seeing the animal moving back to cover. Typically, immediately after a rattlesnake eats, it will spend time moving in and out of cover to bask and digest, and be protected from predators in its less mobile state.
Newborn Banded Rock Rattlesnakes resting just outside of the retreat where they were born a few days prior.
A Colorado Desert Sidewinder, one of the three subspecies of sidewinders in Arizona. This one was found in the hot, sandy desert of the southwestern corner of the state.
A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake emerges from its aestivation den for a short time to drink rainwater from its scales. In a rare pre-monsoon summer rain, every drop is needed. Hydrophobic keeled scales collect rain droplets, which the snake drinks over time.
A young Blacktailed Rattlesnake breaking position to hide in rocks. We’d accidentally disturbed it by showing up, but it held this pose long enough for us to back off and get a few photos. This is in a remote canyon far from any road, and being bothered by people isn’t a regular thing for the snakes here.
A colorful Banded Rock Rattlesnake from southeastern Arizona. These small rattlesnakes, when encountered, almost always quickly flee. This may be accompanied by a high pitched rattle that could easily be ignored as a cicada, or not heard at all.
An interesting note on these snakes: of all of the ranchers, hunters, and cabin owners I’ve talked to in the field over the years, none of them have heard of this snake. Despite being exceedingly common in the right habitat, they’re apparently easy to miss or at least mistake as something else.
