Courtship and Mating of Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes

Posted on August 21, 2026August 21, 2026 by Bryan Hughes

This pair of Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes were found at a den in central Arizona near the edge of the species range in the area. With at least fifty observable individuals, this is a large den for these snakes in the state, which is also shares with Blacktailed Rattlesnakes and Arizona Black Rattlesnakes. With multiple large males roving around, I was watching hoping for combat, but it didn’t happen this day. This photo was taken right after the snakes eventually moved from courtship to mating, with tails elevated. They remained in this location for at least the rest of the day.

Bright Orange Speckled Rattlesnake in Central Arizona

Posted on August 17, 2026August 17, 2026 by Bryan Hughes

A brilliantly colored Speckled Rattlesnake from central Arizona. The rock in this particular spot doesn’t look very much like the snakes, but the occasional oxidized rock breaks off from higher and tumbles to the ground. When that orange rock sits under a bush or random location against the other grey and browns, it’s just part of the landscape. This snake, though, was hard to miss.

Speckled Rattlesnake in Ambush

Posted on June 24, 2026June 24, 2026 by Bryan Hughes

A Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus pyrrhus) in ambush along a ledge in central Arizona. While most of the boulder field where it was found is made of rock similar to how this snake looks … this particular large boulder made of light colored granite helped make this one easy to spot. We got some photos from a distance and left it there to hopefully succeed in getting that chuckwalla or ground squirrel it’s looking for.

Mojave Rattlesnake from Central Arizona

Posted on June 18, 2026June 18, 2026 by Bryan Hughes

A Mojave Rattlesnake from one of the higher-elevation populations in central Arizona. These snakes are common in grasslands, where they live in relatively flat, sandy areas. This one is from a canyon bottom it shares with several other species of rattlesnakes, including Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes, Arizona Black Rattlesnakes, Blacktailed Rattlesnakes, and Speckled Rattlesnakes.

Rosy Boa With a Stump

Posted on May 12, 2026May 12, 2026 by Bryan Hughes

I found a Rosy Boa that had apparently lost its tail somewhere along the way. This is one of two species of boa native to Arizona, found in rocky areas in the west-southwestern third or so of the state.

Blacktailed Rattlesnake on a Rock

Posted on April 24, 2026April 24, 2026 by Bryan Hughes

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

Posted on April 16, 2026April 16, 2026 by Bryan Hughes

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 Desert Tortoise On The Move

Posted on April 10, 2026April 10, 2026 by Bryan Hughes

A Sonoran Desert Tortoise cruising around the rocky outcrop it calls home each Winter. It shares the space with a few Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes and at least one Gila Monster … and a beehive.

Regal Ringnecked Snake

Posted on April 9, 2026April 9, 2026 by Bryan Hughes

A Regal Ringnecked Snake we found in central Arizona many years ago. These are venomous, but harmless, eating a wide variety of prey from invertebrates to other snakes. The red color under the tail, which is shown here in defensive display, is just a hint at the bright colors that run the length of the belly.

Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake at Sundown

Posted on March 31, 2026March 31, 2026 by Bryan Hughes

A bright orange and pink Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake we found in Yavapai County, Arizona several years ago, photographed in the last light of the day. These snakes look just like the rock they’re found near, so the iron-rich boulders where this one is from make for a very pretty animal.