The Reptiles and Amphibians of Utah

Description: A tan, light brown, gray, yellowish, or pinkish base color with darker blotches down the dorsal. Blotching can be faded and usually bordered by darker hues. The head pattern is faded or absent but a dark bar still usually occurs behind the eyes. The tail tip at the base of the rattle is black. Juveniles have a white base color with a more contrasting pattern. The scales are keeled.

Once considered a separate subspecies, abyssus has recently been lumped back in with the Great Basin Rattlesnake however, it is still commonly referred to as abyssus by many when encountering these snakes within their range. 

Size: A medium-sized heavy-bodied snake averaging around 3 feet  in length.

Range and Habitat: This snake occurs on the Southern Colorado Plateau in the area of the Colorado River and Lake Powell. It extends northward along the Paria and Escalante River drainages. It inhabits arid canyonlands, semiarid benchlands, and semiarid canyonlands. It can be found up to about 6,000 feet in elevation. 

Similar Species: The other rattlesnakes in Utah can be similar in color and pattern. This species overlaps in range with the Great Basin Rattlesnake, Midget Faded Rattlesnake, and Prairie Rattlesnake (Hopi) in the area of Lake Powell. These species can be very difficult to tell apart due to suspected interbreeding between them in this area.