Reptiles of Arizona - Twin-spotted Rattlesnake (Crotalus pricei)

Cochise County, AZ

Cochise Co., AZ

TWIN-SPOTTED RATTLESNAKE Crotalus pricei	Venomous

DESCRIPTION: A small (up to 660 mm or 26" in total length excluding rattle), blue-gray, pale gray, or gray-brown rattlesnake with two rows of small, dark blotches running down the back. Dorsal blotches merge into one row near the tail. Some individuals have a dark stripe that runs from behind the eye to the neck. The underside is cream with mottling of dark gray-brown. The pupils are vertically elliptical and the dorsal scales are keeled. The neck is slender and the head is broad and triangular. On the end of the tail is a rattle composed of a series of loosely interlocking keratinous sections. A new section is added each time the snake sheds its skin. The rattle segment nearest to the tail is orange. DISTRIBUTION: This snake is found in the Chiricahua, Pinaleño, Huachuca, and Santa Rita "sky island" mountain ranges of southeastern Arizona at elevations ranging from ca. 6000' to ca. 11,000'. HABITAT: It is found in Petran Subalpine Conifer Forest and Petran Montane Conifer Forest communities. Most often encountered on steep talus slopes and in rocky outcrops but it is also occasionally found in relatively flat, open forest and canyon bottoms. BEHAVIOR: This primarily diurnal ground-dweller is often encountered basing on rock slides in the mid-morning. It can be active at any time of the year but winter activity is generally restricted to basking near the hibernaculum on sunny and unseasonably warm days. DIET: The Twin-spotted Rattlesnake feeds on lizards, small rodents, and birds. Cannibalism has been observed in this species. It uses venom injected through long, hollow, retractable fangs to kill and begin digesting its prey. REPRODUCTION: Mating takes place in summer. A litter of up to 9 young is born in summer. REMARKS: This rattlesnake is capable of delivering potent venom. If encountered it should be left alone. A large percentage of envenomations occur when a snake is handled or abused. Protected in the state of Arizona. It is against Arizona State law to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect this animal or to attempt to engage in any such conduct. By Thomas C. Brennan Bartlett. 2000. Snakes of North America: Western Region. Gulf Publishing Co. Houston, TX Brennan, T. C., and A. T. Holycross. 2006. A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles in Arizona. Arizona Game and Fish Department. Phoenix, AZ Fowlie. 1965. The Snakes of Arizona. Azul Quinta Press, Fallbrook, California Lowe, Schwalbe, Johnson. 1986. The Venomous Reptiles of Arizona. Nongame Branch Arizona Game and Fish Department. Phoenix, AZ Stebbins. 1985. Western Reptiles and Amphibians. Houghton Mifflin. New York, NY

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