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Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Aug 10th, 2018
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  1. **Western Diamondback Rattlesnake**
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  3. The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, *Crotalus atrox*, is one of many recognized species of rattlesnake. Adults average between 3-4ft in length, though specimens measuring more than five feet in overall length can still be found. The largest reported measurement for a western diamondback rattlesnake is 92.5 inches (Jones, 1997).
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  5. Western diamondback rattlesnakes are venomous, and are therefore highly dangerous if approached too closely or handled. They are not generally aggressive and will most likely flee any confrontation if given a chance to retreat. They are famously known for their tail rattle to ward off predators.
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  7. Coloration:
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  9. - Background coloration of tan or brown surrounds series of diamond-shaped blotches.
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  11. - Dorsal coloration varies tremendously over its distributional range, though typically shades of tan or brown.
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  13. - Tail is black and white banded (sometimes called "coontail" across its range).
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  15. - Ventral surface is off-white and usually unmarked.
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  17. - [Photo.](http://madrean.org/imglib/maba/fauna//201105/Crotalus_atrox-RWVan_Deve_0.jpg)
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  19. Interesting fact- Counting rattles is not an effective way to tell a rattlesnakes age because snakes can shed more than once per year (they get a new rattle with every shed) and rattles are even known to get broken off.
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  21. While Crotalus scutulatus, the Mojave rattlesnake, looks a lot like the western diamondback rattlesnake, it *usually* has a greenish tinge that the other snake does not. In case the Mojave rattlesnake does not have the green tinge, it also has two or three large scales between the eyes, near the top of the head, which the western diamondback doesn't have. The other difference is the post-ocular stripe. [On a western diamondback it extends to the back end of the jaw, but for a mojave, the post-ocular stripe will extend past the end of the jaw.](http://www.californiaherps.com/identification/snakesid/crotalusatroxvsscutulatus.id.html)
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  23. [Range map](http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/maps/xcatroxspeciesmap3.jpg).
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