Crotalus sp.

Rattlesnake

A member of the Family Viperidae (Vipers), Order Squamata (Lizards, Snakes, and Amphisbaenians),
Class Reptilia (Reptiles), Phylum Chordata (Vertebrates), Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Along trailside.

I had passed the snake, unseen, a few feet away and I jumped when it buzzed after I passed.
Then, at a respectful distance, I took these images through the telephoto lenses.

This rattlesnake could either be a Mojave (Crotalus scutulatus) or a
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox).  I lean toward the former
identification, since the bands on the tail (seen below) are not as contrasting as is
apparently typical for the Diamond-backed, nor are they evenly in width as they would be
in the Diamond-backed.  On the other hand, there are dark speckles in among the light
scales which are supposed to be indicative of the Diamond-backed.  The most
diagnostic feature of the Mojave is supposed to be the presence of larger than ordinary
scales on the top of the head between the eyes, but I can't determine if these are present
in the images, the low viewing angle and the roughness of the scales obscuring this.

This beauty, who stopped buzzing soon after I passed, was in the three- to four-foot range.

Along Crystal Springs Trail, Providence Mountains State Recreation Area,
at ca. 4500 feet elevation.

4 May 2008, 4:32 pm.

Image copyright © Lee Dittmann.

Same snake, head detail.

4 May 2008, 4:31 pm.

Image copyright © Lee Dittmann.

Same snake, body detail.

4 May 2008, 4:31 pm.

Image copyright © Lee Dittmann.

Scales in more detail; enlargement of part of prior image.

4 May 2008, 4:31 pm.

Image copyright © Lee Dittmann.

Same snake, showing habitat.

4 May 2008, 4:31 pm.

Image copyright © Lee Dittmann.

Same snake, tail end, showing banding and rattle.

4 May 2008, 4:32 pm.

Image copyright © Lee Dittmann.

Same snake, retreating toward rock crevice.

4 May 2008, 4:32 pm.

Image copyright © Lee Dittmann.

Same snake, detail of rattle.

4 May 2008, 4:34 pm.

Image copyright © Lee Dittmann.

Same snake, under rock, rattle held up outside.

4 May 2008, 4:34 pm.

Image copyright © Lee Dittmann.

This page created 19 September 2008.

Mojave National Preserve, California An unofficial website to celebrate the landscapes and life of this eastern Mojave Desert region
Information	Map	Photo Tour
Plants	Animals	Links
This website created by Lee Dittmann of Mindbird Maps & Books, a Kingman, Arizona retail store.  You can help support the development and maintenance of this site with your purchases of maps, magnifiers, field notebooks, field guides, and much more from the Mindbird website. See the Mindbird Maps & Books website at www.mindbird.com.