Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Facts | Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Habitat & Diet

Let us find out some of the most useful western diamondback rattlesnake facts including rattlesnake diet, habitat, and reproduction. The western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) is a subspecies of rattlesnake and is certainly one of the venomous snakes that exist all throughout the North America. It’s no surprise that a handful number of deaths in United States and Mexico are caused due to the venomous bite of these snakes. The western diamondback rattlesnakes are also known as Adobe snake, fierce rattlesnake, coon tail, desert diamond-tail snake, Texan rattlesnake, spitting rattlesnake, Texas diamond-back, and Arizona diamond rattlesnake. These types of snakes are classified as Least Concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Exciting Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Facts

• The length of the western diamondback rattlesnake measure around 120 cm (3.9 feet), with few species can also grow to a size of about 150 cm (4.9 feet) and some are even 180 cm (5.9 feet) long.
• The largest western diamondback rattlesnake measures around 210 cm (6.99 feet).
• Until the age of maturity, males are considerably greater in size as compared to females while after the maturity age both turns out to be equal.
• The weight of these rattlesnakes measure around 1.8 – 2.7 kg (4.0 – 6.0 lb), with few species can also weigh around 6.7 kg (15 lb).
• The western diamondback rattlesnakes exhibit array of different colors such as pinkish, yellowish, grayish-brown color, brick red, and chalky white.
• There are around dark brown 24 to 25 dorsal body markings.
• The tail has 2 to 8 black bands that are separated by interspaces.
• The average lifespan of western diamondback rattlesnakes is 20 years.
•  They are generally solitary species and are considered to be the most dangerous snakes across North America since they do not back off from the confrontation, if any.
• The rattlesnakes normally display inactive behavior in the months of October and March.

Where Do Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes Live

These types of rattlesnakes inhabit all along the southeastern California, south of Mexico, northern Sinaloa, northern Veracruz, Texas, southeastern Oaxaca, and Hidalgo. Western rattlesnakes are also known to reside in other places of United States such as Arizona, southern Nevada, southern Kansas, Kanopolis Reservoir, Chocolate Mountains, and Central New Mexico. In Mexico, these snakes are found in Sonora, Coahuila, northeastern Baja California, Durango, San Luis Potosi, Queretaro, Gulf of California, San Pedro Martir, Turner Islands, and Zacatecas.

The western rattlesnakes make their habitats in extreme rocky canyons and horizontal coastal plains. The preferable places of their habitats are creosote regions, mesquite grassland, desert scrub, sandy regions, and pine-oak forests and other regions that are dominated by different kinds of vegetation. They also inhabit along the tropical deciduous forests.

What Do Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes Eat | Western Diamondback Rattlesnake Facts

The western diamondback rattlesnake primarily preys on smaller species. According to one study, these snakes consume kangaroo rats, prairie dogs, pocket gophers, pocket mice, white-footed mice, harvest mice, Old World Rats, ground squirrels, cotton rats, fox squirrels, jackrabbits, and other similar species. These rattlesnakes are also known to prey on lizards, small birds, young snakes, mockingbirds, burrowing owl, fledging horned lark, black-throated sparrow, eastern meadowlark, and spiny lizards.

Reproduction

• These rattlesnakes are viviparous species.
• The gestation period lasts for 6 – 7 months.
• The female gives birth to 25 young snakes.
• The young snakes are 30 cm (12 inches) long.