How many species of rattlesnakes are there in Arizona?

Arizona is home to 13 species of rattlesnakes as follows:

(1) Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), the largest rattlesnake in the West, up to 66" long, responsible for more bites and deaths to humans than any other rattlesnake species in the US;

(2) Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus), up to 63" long;

(3) Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis), up to 64" long;

(4) Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchelli), up to 51" long;

(5) Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus), up to 50" long, widely considered most toxic rattlesnake in the US;

(6) Black-tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus), up to 48" long;

(7) Arizona Black Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus), up to 42" long;

(8) Tiger Rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris), up to 35" long;

(9) Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus), up to 33" long, has a special protection in Arizona;

(10) Twin-spotted Rattlesnake (Crotalus pricei), up to 26" long, small rattle sounds like an insect, has a special protection in Arizona;

(11) Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi), up to 26" long, an official state reptile, has special protection in Arizona;

(12) Sidewinder Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerastes), up to 25" long;

(13) Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus), up to 22" long, has special protection in Arizona.

Caution is advised even when snakes are believed to be dead; rattlesnake heads can see, flick the tongue, and inflict venomous bites for up to an hour after being severed from the body.

More Info: www.azgfd.com

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33 Comments

Douglas Oaten

13! That is what I call clear and present danger!

Lorraine Hawcroft

Very interesting and informative, not that I have to fear them here in Yorkshire, although I have a genuine fear of ANY snake and can't bare to look at them without recoiling myself.

Naked Kitty Slave

Ugh! Snakes be-yond scare the scheit out of me. Like REALLY.BAD.

Alicia Alvarado

Got it and thanks for this question!

Cynthia Campbell

We just recently had a case where the man chopped the head off and then when he went to dispose of it he got bit and nearly died!

Richard D. Boyle

Noah must have had his hands full feeding and avoiding the fangs of all 26 of those babies, not to mention the multiple species of all the other snakes, reptiles, insects,etc. Must have been several hundred billion or so. Probably took a while to collect them all considering the fact that there are over 2000 different species of termites and over 90 different species of bedbug and over 850 different species of ticks and…well, you get the idea.

jaime alzate

VERY INTERESTING. I LIKE THE QUESTION. THANKS, EMILIA.

leomik facebook

That’s a lot of rattlesnakes 🐍

Carmelina Piperni

I LIKE THE QUESTIONS....INTERESTING.........

David Holmes

Guessed incorrectly but it was really interesting and I have learnt something.

✨KRISTA✨

Did not know the fact about the severed head!😲 (I am deathly 💀 afraid of any snake!)🐍

Carl Belken

Too many, as far as I'm concerned, and I do believe that snakes are beneficial.

L Lh Adams

I don't count them,just shoot 'em.

vonlora

seems that they should have included the great basin rattlesnake. it is here in northwest arizona

Char

Thanks Majority yikes been there for months before never saw one . Thank Heavens

Larry Jones

earlepg, They usually only circulate at night, as the heat during the day is too intense and deadly, even for them. I lived in the Mojave desert in California for two years and never saw a single snake.