Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
Reptilia
COMMON

Stats

Lifespan
15-20 yrs
Size
Large
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Cathemeral
Social
Solitary
Biome
Desert
Range
North America
Movement
Slithering
Breeding
Live Birth
Defense
Venom
Status
Common

About

The Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake is a venomous snake with a distinctive pattern of diamond-shaped blotches on its back. Albino varieties of the species have white scales and red eyes, giving them a striking appearance.

Life cycle

  1. 1.
    hatchling
    A miniature snake emerges from the egg or from its mother (live-bearers), already venomous or strong-coiled in some species.
  2. 2.
    juvenile
    A juvenile sheds its skin, grows quickly, and hunts smaller prey than the adults.
  3. 3.
    adult
    Fully grown at adult length and pattern.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Family
Viperidae
Genus
Crotalus
Species
Crotalus atrox