Reptile · GBIF taxon 2444356
Western Diamondback
Crotalus atroxAlso known as Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake, Texas Diamondback, Coontail Rattler
Western diamondback rattlesnakes are heavy-bodied pit vipers renowned for their striking brown diamond markings and distinctively banded black-and-white tails. They spend hot desert days coiling in shade or animal burrows, emerging at dusk to hunt warm-blooded prey using heat-sensing facial pits. When threatened, they coil tightly, rattle their modified tail segments in warning, and strike with high speed.
VenomousReptileCrepuscular
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Kangaroo Rats
- Cottontail Rabbits
- Ground Squirrels
Predators
- Roadrunners
- Red-Tailed Hawks
- Kingsnakes
ThreatsHabitat loss, human persecution, rattlesnake roundups, road mortality
HabitatsDeserts, arid scrublands, canyons, rocky hillsides
Life span15–20 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyViperidae
- GenusCrotalus
- SpeciesCrotalus atrox
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskVery high
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is very high
- Possesses potent hemotoxic venom; keep a respectful distance of at least two body lengths and never approach.
- Why it is dangerous
- Injects potent hemotoxic venom containing proteolytic enzymes that cause severe tissue damage, intense pain, internal bleeding, and systemic shock.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for brown diamond patterns edged in white along the back, capped by a tail with stark, alternating black and white bands.
- What to do
- Never attempt to touch, catch, or relocate a wild individual; freeze and step back slowly if encountered on a trail.
Responsible observation
- Give Space: Maintain a distance of at least twice the snake's body length to stay out of strike range.
- Watch Your Step: Watch feet and hands carefully when walking around desert rocks, fallen logs, or high grass.
- Listen Carefully: Retreat immediately if you hear a dry buzzing sound, which indicates a defensive warning.
Predator (c) Connor Long, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Look-Alike "Mojave rattlesnake" by BLM Nevada is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative (c) evangrimes, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Genus Relative (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Desert Sands
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