A New Mexico Ridgenosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi obscurus) from Mexico.
New Mexico Ridgenosed Rattlesnake
Category: Crotalus
A Mother Banded Rock Rattlesnake Looks Over Her Newborns
A new mother Banded Rock Rattlesnake oversees her newborn babies at a rock pile in southeastern Arizona. This was during the monsoon season, when abundant moisture triggers the live birth of rattlesnakes. This mother stayed with the newborns until just after their first shed skin, at which point they all dispersed to surrounding habitat.
Twin Spotted Rattlesnake High on Mt. Graham
A Twin Spotted Rattlesnake that we found in eastern Arizona, showing off many more than “twin” spots. These tiny rattlesnakes can vary greatly in appearance from one location to the next, even between individuals in a single population. These are not likely to be seen unless you are spending time in the highest areas of a handful of the Chiricahua, Huachuca, Pinaleño, or Santa Rita mountain ranges.
Prival, D. B., Goode, M. J., Swann, D. E., Schwalbe, C. R. (2002), & Schroff, M. J.. Natural History of a Northern Population of Twin-Spotted Rattlesnakes, Crotalus pricei. Journal of Herpetology, 36(4), 598–607.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1670/0022-1511(2002)036[0598:NHOANP]2.0.CO;2
Blacktailed Rattlesnake in Arizona
A mature Black-tailed Rattlesnake we found on a late-night hike near Phoenix. These snakes live in mountainous or hilly areas, where they are often confused with a number of other rattlesnake species.
Arizona Ridgenosed Rattlesnake from the Huachuaca Mountains
A pretty little Arizona Ridgenosed Rattlesnake from a humid week in southeastern Arizona.
Grand Canyon Rattlesnake
A Grand Canyon Rattlesnake we found near its namesake a while back. This is what many refer to as the “Grand Canyon Pink”, though they are often, or usually, not pink, but this straw color or similar. The pattern here is strong, as is often typical in males and younger snakes, but may fade with time. In parts of the canyon, too, there are Speckled Rattlesnakes which may also be pink, so the “pink rattler” of the canyon can be a misleading concept.
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake in Pink
A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake I found in Cave Creek, Arizona. These snakes are common in the mountains of the area, where they often appear in this pink color.
Arizona Black Rattlesnake Near Phoenix
An Arizona Black Rattlesnake from relatively open desert in Maricopa County, Arizona. This species is diverse in appearance and habitat preferences, with this particular population inhabiting generally lower, hotter, and exposed areas.
Banded Rock Rattlesnake
A Banded Rock Rattlesnake found on a sunny day back in 2013 in the sky islands of Arizona. These small rattlesnakes are locally abundant, but would be difficult to be bitten by anyone not actively looking to handle, capture, or kill them. When they see a person, they typically just slip away into the rocks or grass quickly, sometimes with a parting buzz.
Arizona Black Rattlesnakes
A couple of Arizona Black Rattlesnakes tucked away in a den in central Arizona.
