Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
An adult western diamond-backed rattlesnake inhabits deserts, grasslands, mesquite scrub, and rocky slopes across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is an ambush predator that waits near trails, burrow mouths, and cover for rodents, rabbits, birds, and reptiles. When threatened it coils, raises the head, and rattles loudly before striking if the warning is ignored. This species is one of the largest rattlesnakes in North America and plays an important role in controlling rodent populations.
- Type
- Venom / Stealth
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- ?
- Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake Juvenile
- Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake