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.
Blacktailed Rattlesnake in Arizona
Tag: arizona
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.
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.
Sonoran Desert Tortoise on a Mountain Top
I scrambled to the high rocky ridge of a mountain in western Arizona, looking for rattlesnakes. The steep terrain and loose rocky ground made it difficult to get there. I was surprised to run into this big Sonoran Desert Tortoise (Gophersus morafkai) up there. These animals are great climbers, often picking hiding spots far up hillsides in places I wouldn’t even want to climb. We passed each other, and he headed down slope in what looked to be a dangerously steep area … but as I was the one slipping and sliding all over the place, I figured he knew what he was doing.
Arizona Black Rattlesnakes
A couple of Arizona Black Rattlesnakes tucked away in a den in central Arizona.
Blacktailed Rattlesnake on a Rock
A Blacktailed Rattlesnake from central Arizona. The species also often has black eyes, too, especially in higher elevation individuals. This animal is found in mountainous areas, and often misidentified as a Mojave Rattlesnake due to their bright color, even by (especially by!) long-term locals.
Speckled Rattlesnake in Pink Rocks
A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake from central Arizona. In this region, the rocks are often brightly colored with oxidized metals and tinted crystals. This makes for some really amazing snakes.
Sonoran Lyresnake in Arizona
A Sonoran Lyresnake we found late at night as it was leaving a rocky hillside, heading out towards open flat desert.
Lesser Earless Lizard
A Lesser Earless Lizard (Holbrookia maculata) from the western edge of Arizona. These lizards, as the name suggests, lack external ear openings to help live in the sandy, debris-filled environment. They still have ears, however, just hidden by skin. This one took a break from skittering away from me for a photo.
