An Arizona Ridgenosed Rattlesnake in southeastern Arizona. These small rattlesnakes are common where they are found, but even ranchers born and raised in the area usually have no idea it exists. That’s thanks, in part, to its nearly perfect camouflage, making it about invisible in oak leaf litter and bunchgrass.
A small Lancehead (Fer De Lance) I came across on a trail as I set off on a long solo hike in the Peruvian Amazon a couple of years ago. These snakes can be anywhere and everywhere, from the ground to trees, and quite easy to miss.
A rattlesnake that looks like a rock. This Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake was found in central Arizona in an area of rusty granite and quartz. The resulting cryptic pattern is just as colorful, including speckled grey blue eyes. Though it is brightly colored, these snakes can be very difficult to see in context.
Cochran, C. (2019). Variation in morphology, diet, and venom composition in Crotalus pyrrhus (Cope 1867) [Doctoral dissertation, Loma Linda University]. Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects. https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3590&context=etd
Crowell, H. L., Whelan, J. M., & Harmel, M. V. (2020). Rattlesnake colouration affects detection by predators. Journal of Zoology, 310(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12786
Hanscom, R. J., & Higham, T. E. (2023). Ambush hunting in snakes: Behaviour, function, and diversity. In Snakes: Ecology, behavior, and conservation (pp. 1–32). ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373257803_Ambush_Hunting_in_Snakes_Behavior_Function_and_Diversity
Hanscom, R. J. (2025). From ambush to activity: Using accelerometry to reveal cryptic behaviors of rattlesnakes and kangaroo rats [Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Riverside]. eScholarship. https://escholarship.org/content/qt4ft2985w/qt4ft2985w.pdf
Teshera, M. S. (2021). Strike-induced chemosensory searching, kleptoparasitism, and the possibility of chemical crypsis in rattlesnakes [Doctoral dissertation, University of Texas at El Paso]. UTEP Digital Commons. https://scholarworks.utep.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4357&context=open_etd
A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake from Yavapai County, Arizona, photographed earlier in the year. The combination of geology and lichen in the area produce some beautiful color combinations in the animals evolved to cryptically match it.
A South American Bushmaster hiding in dense vegetation alongside a trail in Peru several years ago.
A vibrant Northern Blacktailed Rattlesnake hiding away in a crevice in Pinal County, Arizona. These rattlesnakes are one of the species most often encountered by hikers, but are comparatively rarely found at homes. They’re secretive snakes, and easy to walk right by in most instances.
A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake making it difficult to tell where snake ends and rock begins.
