The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, or Crotalus atrox, a member of the family Viperidae, the subfamily Crotalinae, and the genus Crotalus, has such a hold on the human psyche that it has been a symbol of the American Southwest from prehistoric into historic times. It figures in ancient mythology, ceramics and rock art and in modern story and media. Western diamondback rattlesnake is the king of our twenty odd species and sub-species of Southwestern desert rattlers, not only in terms of size, but also in terms of its fearsome reputation.
Ten Facts about Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
- The Western Diamondback, which can exceed seven feet in length.
- Like other rattlers, the Western Diamondback takes up residence among communities of small mammals such as prairie dogs, rabbits, gophers, chipmunks, ground squirrels, mice, usually hunting at night.
- The snake occupies diverse habitats from sea level to 7000 feet, ranging from desert flats to rocky hillsides, grassy plains, forested areas, river bottoms and coastal prairies.
- Its range spans much of Arkansas, most of Texas and Oklahoma, the southern parts of New Mexico and Arizona, the southern tip of California, and the northern parts of Mexico's Chihuahua and Sonora.
- The Western Diamondback male, like the males of most species, become obsessed with females at mating time, in the spring.
- The female, sexually mature at three years old.
- The young are born complete with fangs and venom, armed and dangerous at birth.
- It can live for more than twenty years.
- Its venom can retain its potency for years.
- Common names are Western diamondback rattlesnake, western diamond-backed rattlesnake, Adobe snake, Arizona diamond rattlesnake, coon tail.
