Twin-Spotted Rattlesnake

Range

This specie can be found in the Chiricahua, Pinaleno, Huachuca and Santa Rita mountain ranges of southeastern Arizona at elevations ranging from ca. 6,000 feet to ca. 11,000 feet.

Habitats

This specie can be found in the Petran Subalpine Conifer Forest and Petran Montane Conifer Forest communities. Usually, it can be found in taluses and rocky outcrops and comparably flat, rockless, open forests. They are pretty active any time of the year but during winter, it is restricted to basking. Their diet is made up of lizards, small rodents and birds. Mating occurs during the summer, giving birth to about 9 young. These are born in summer.

Identification

This specie is a small snake of about 660 mm in total length. They are usually blue-grey, pale-grey or grey-brown. They have two rows of small, dark blotches that run down their backs. The dorsal blotches usually unite into one row close to the tail. Also, a dark stripe marks both sides of their face. This then extends from behind the eye to the neck. The underside of this snake is cream with mottling of dark grey-brown. On the end of this snake’s tail, it has a rattle made up of a series of loosing interlocking keratinous sections. Also, a new section is added every time the snake sheds its skin. Lastly, its rattle segment closest to the tail is orange.

Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians