The Reptiles and Amphibians of Utah

Description: Yellow, gray, or light brown base color, often with a greenish tint. Well-defined hexagonal or diamond-shaped blotches along the dorsal. The blotches are tan, brown, or orangish-brown in color and often bordered by lighter-colored scales. One to two rows of lateral blotching can be poorly defined. Two light-colored stripes extend to the jaw; one from the front of the eye and the other from the back of the eye past the corner of the jaw. The tail is black and white banded, with the black bands being thinner than the white. The scales are keeled.  

Size: A large, heavy-bodied snake averaging 3 to 4 feet in length. 

Venom: This snake produces a highly toxic venom that consists of a mix of hemotoxins and neurotoxins. Medical treatment should be sought if a bite occurs.

Range and Habitat: This snake occurs in the Mojave Desert Region of Southern Washington County. It inhabits flat open areas of Mojave desertscrub and creosote bush-dominated basins. It can be found below 4,000 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, Mojave Desert Sidewinder, and Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake.