A California Kingsnake on the crawl late at night in central Arizona.
California Kingsnake in Gila County, Arizona
Tag: arizona
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake Waits For Dark
A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake rests in a rocky retreat, waiting for dark. Like other rattlesnake species in the Phoenix area, once temperatures stabilize in the triple digits, their activity becomes mostly nocturnal. The late afternoon is a good time to wait for a lizard or bird to make a mistake, in the meantime.
Banded Rock Rattlesnakes Courting Under A Rock
A mated pair of Banded Rock Rattlesnakes, tucked into rocks in a minor drainage in southeastern Arizona. During the late monsoon season, it’s not uncommon to find pairs or rattlesnakes like this, courting and mating in one rock pile while others are still giving birth elsewhere. The period of seasonal rain is the peak of activity for these animals, and a lot needs to be done in a relatively short period of time.
1. Mata-Silva, V. (2011). Ecology of the Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus) in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert. University of Texas at El Paso.
2. Mata-Silva, V., DeSantis, D.L., Wagler, A.E., et al. (2018). Spatial Ecology of Rock Rattlesnakes (Crotalus lepidus) in Far West Texas. Herpetologica, 74(3), 245–255.
https://doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-17-00091.1
Blacktailed Rattlesnake from Southern Arizona
A Blacktailed Rattlesnake from southeastern Arizona. They are large, common rattlesnakes in the mountainous regions of much of the state, where they are often misidentified over generations as Mojave Rattlesnakes due to a misunderstanding of the color green in rattlesnakes.
Arizona Black Rattlesnake from Greenlee County
An Arizona Black Rattlesnake resting in partial cover after an exceptionally rainy few days. In this area, along the eastern edge of their range in Arizona, the species can look a bit different. The light bands on this individual, for instance, are wide, in some cases as wide as the darker blotches they surround, and the snake may never darken (much). This is typical for the area, though, as most of the photos you may see of Arizona Black Rattlesnakes online or in field guides are from a handful of more central locations.
Gravid Speckled Rattlesnake At Rest
A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake resting in the shade outside its summer aestivation den. It’s one of a handful that gather here each year to hide from the heat and gestate.
Baby Sonoran Desert Tortoise
We found this tiny young Sonoran Desert Tortoise cruising around the base of a basalt mountain in the harsh, remote desert of southwestern Arizona. This little one had likely just started its springtime wandering, looking to take in as many blossoms and young green leaves as possible before the heat forces it underground for a while.
Tiger Rattlesnake From The Border Area
A relatively colorful Tiger Rattlesnake found in Santa Cruz County, Arizona awhile back. These rattlesnakes are common in the thornscrub hills along the Arizona/Mexico border.
A Brown Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes in the Phoenix area aren’t all grey. Some can be reddish or have hints of orange, and some rich brown tones like this one.
Arizona Black Rattlesnake In The Grass
An Arizona Black Rattlesnake resting in partial cover. These snakes spend a lot of time on the surface, hiding in and as shadows to evade detection by predators and prey.
