Rattlesnake Facts: • Reportedly Used in Famous Hopi Snake Dance Ritual • Scientists Have Identified 36 Rattlesnake Species

Arizona Rattlesnakes Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi) • Up to 26" long Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake • Gets its name from raised ridge of scales around front of snout Twin-spotted Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) • Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake is official state reptile (Crotalus pricei) • Up to 66" long • One of four rattlesnake species with special protection in Arizona • Up to 26" long Western Rattlesnake • Largest rattlesnake in the West • Small rattle sounds like insect (Crotalus oreganus) • Responsible for more bites and deaths Speckled Rattlesnake • One of four rattlesnake species • Up to 63" long to humans than any other rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) with special protection in Arizona • Has venom twice as strong as Western Diamond-backed species in U.S. • Up to 51" long Rattlesnake, but produces less venom • Color can vary greatly from nearly white to pink, gray or brown Rock Rattlesnake • Color often matches their (Crotalus lepidus) surroundings • Up to 33" long • Young use brightly colored tail to attract prey, but Mohave Rattlesnake tail changes color as snake gets older (Crotalus scutulatus) • One of four rattlesnake species with special Black-tailed Rattlesnake • Up to 50" long protection in Arizona (Crotalus molossus) • Widely considered most toxic • Up to 48" long rattlesnake in U.S. • Color can vary greatly from brown or • Easily confused with Western beige to green or golden yellow Diamond-backed Rattlesnake

Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes) • Up to 25" long • Travels in side-winding motion Arizona Black Rattlesnake • Only rattlesnake with horns over eyes (Crotalus cerberus) • Up to 42" long Prairie Rattlesnake • Young are vividly patterned and can look very different from adults (Crotalus viridis) • Up to 64" long Rattlesnake Facts: • Reportedly used in famous Hopi snake dance ritual • Scientists have identified 36 rattlesnake species. • The rattle is made of keratin, the same material found in • Rattlesnakes live only in North and South America. human hair and fingernails. • 13 species live in Arizona, more than any other state. • The age of a rattlesnake cannot be determined by counting • Rattlesnakes use the “loreal pit,” a heat-sensing organ the segments of its rattle. between the nostril and eye to locate prey and potential • Rattlesnake prey may include small mammals, birds, Massasauga predators. reptiles, amphibians and centipedes. (Sistrurus catenatus) • Up to 22" long Tiger Rattlesnake • These snakes have glands that make venom, much like • According to Arizona Poison Centers, less than 1% of • Most primitive form of rattlesnake in U.S. (Crotalus tigris) human saliva glands make saliva. rattlesnake bites result in human deaths. • One of four rattlesnake species with special • Up to 35" long protection in Arizona • Small head doesn’t hold much venom, but venom is powerful

Learn more about Arizona’s rattlesnakes from the book “A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles in Arizona” available for sale at Arizona Game and Fish Department offices, and through free lessons from the department’s environmental education program at azgfd.gov/focuswild.

Arizona Game and Fish Department • (602) 942-3000 • azgfd.gov • January 2007