New Mexico is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including several species of venomous snakes. Among these, rattlesnakes are perhaps the most well-known and feared. With their distinctive rattle and potent venom, these snakes have earned a reputation as some of the most dangerous creatures in the state.
In this article, we will explore the seven types of rattlesnakes found in New Mexico, providing an overview of their physical characteristics, habitats, and behaviors.
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Whether you’re a resident of the state or simply interested in its wildlife, this guide will help you better understand these fascinating and often misunderstood creatures.
7 Types Of Rattlesnakes In New Mexico
Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)
The Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) is a venomous snake species found in the southwestern United States and northern half of Mexico. Here are some key facts about this species:
Physical Characteristics:
– Heavy-bodied snake with a triangular-shaped head
– Dark diamond-shaped patterns along its back
– Two dark diagonal lines on each side of its face running from the eyes to its jaws
– Tail has black and white bands just above the rattles
– Plump body, short tail, and a broad triangular head
– Has a pit organ, which is situated in an indentation of the upper jaw, between the nostril and eye
– Each link of the rattle is the remnant of a molted skin
Habitat:
– Considered a generalist, which means that it isn’t too picky about its habitat
– Can be found living in deserts, grassy plains, forests, rocky hillsides, and areas along the coast
– Inhabits dry, rocky, shrub-covered terrain where they can conceal themselves inside crevices in the rocks or in mouse holes
Behavior:
– Will rear up in a defensive posture and raise up off of the ground
– Hibernates in communal dens
It’s important to note that the Western diamondback rattlesnake is one of the eight poisonous and potentially dangerous snake species found in New Mexico.
New Mexico ridge-nose rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi obscurus)
The New Mexico ridge-nose rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi obscurus) is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States. Here are some key facts about this species:
Physical Characteristics:
– Small and slender-bodied snake with a maximum length of about 66 cm
– Usually pale gray to gray-brown in color and does not have prominent facial markings
– The color pattern consists of a gray or brownish-gray ground color with scattered dark punctations
– The facial stripes that are characteristic of this species may be completely absent
– In the Sierra San Luis population, traces of the pale upper facial stripe may be visible on the posterior upper labials, but there is no pale stripe on the lower labials
Habitat:
– A montane species that is usually found in mountain ranges in the desert southwest of the United States
– Restricted to a narrow range of mountain ranges
– Found in the Animas and adjacent Peloncillo Mountains (Hidalgo County) in New Mexico
Behavior:
– Not much is known about the behavior of this species
It’s important to note that the New Mexico ridge-nose rattlesnake is a small, montane rattlesnake that is restricted to a narrow range of mountain ranges in the desert southwest of the United States.
Mojave rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus)
The Mojave rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) is a highly venomous pit viper species found in the deserts of the southwestern United States and adjacent central Mexico. Here are some key facts about this species:
Physical Characteristics:
– Heavy-bodied snake with a thin neck and a large triangular head
– Pupils are elliptical and scales are keeled
– Usually there are 2 or 3 dark diagonal lines on each side of its face running from the eyes to its jaws
– The color of the Mojave rattlesnake varies from shades of brown to pale green depending on the surroundings
– The green hue found among these snakes has led to them being known as “Mojave greens” in some areas
– They have a dark diamond pattern along their back and wide white bands on the tails
– Additionally, they have enlarged scales on top of the heads between the supraoculars, and the light postocular stripe passes behind the corner of their mouths
Habitat:
– Found in the southwestern United States in southern California, southern Nevada, northern and eastern Nevada, extreme southwestern Utah, most of Arizona, southern New Mexico, and some of Texas
– Commonly found in Riverside, San Bernardino, and Imperial counties in California
Behavior:
– The venom of the Mojave rattlesnake is potent in neurotoxins that attack the nervous system and hemotoxins that attack the blood
– Will rattle its tail when threatened
It’s important to note that the Mojave rattlesnake is one of the eight poisonous and potentially dangerous snake species found in New Mexico.
Mottled rock rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus lepidus)
The Mottled rock rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus lepidus) is a venomous pit viper species found in the southwestern United States and northern central Mexico. Here are some key facts about this species:
Physical Characteristics:
– Small and slender-bodied snake that rarely exceeds 32 inches in length
– Has a large, rounded head, and fairly heavy body for its size, with eyes with vertical pupils
– The color of the Mottled rock rattlesnake is highly variable, usually gray with dark bands but may range from tan to pinkish
– Infants have a bright orange or yellow tail tip, which they likely use for caudal luring (swinging the tail as bait to attract prey)
– Has a rattle on its tail, which is composed of keratin
– Each time the snake sheds its skin, a new segment is added to the rattle
Habitat:
– Known for their association with rocky habitats, typically found in coniferous forests or dry, wooded stream-beds, outcrops/exposed ridgelines, and creosote-cactus scrub
– Found in the rockier areas of its range
Behavior:
– Lizards are their primary prey item, but they are known to occasionally target small rodents
– Young may also eat insects
– Can strike extremely fast and have a hemotoxic/neurotoxin mixture of venom
It’s important to note that the Mottled rock rattlesnake is a small rattlesnake species that is not commonly found, but can be found in rocky habitats in the southwestern United States and northern central Mexico.
Northern black-tailed rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus molossus)
The Northern black-tailed rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus molossus) is a venomous pit viper subspecies found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Here are some key facts about this species:
Physical Characteristics:
– Large rattlesnake that can grow up to 5 feet in length
– Has a triangular-shaped head and vertical pupils
– The color of the Northern black-tailed rattlesnake is highly variable, ranging from yellow-brown to straw-colored with a series of large, black or brown, blotches on the back
– The blotches are jagged-edged and eight-sided with thin lines running down the sides to the belly
– The neck is slender and the head is wide and triangular
– Gradually fades in to a solid black tail
Habitat:
– Can occupy a diverse range of habitats and elevations, from grasslands and deserts to rocky, mountainous areas
– Found at up to 12,000 feet elevation
– Found in the United States in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, and in Mexico in Sonora, Chihuahua, and Coahuila
Behavior:
– Primarily feeds on small mammals like rats, mice, and rabbits, but also eats lizards and insects
– Largely solitary and communal dens are rare
– Like other rattlesnakes, they have a rattle composed of keratin on the end of their tail
It’s important to note that the Northern black-tailed rattlesnake is a large rattlesnake species that can be found in a diverse range of habitats and elevations in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)
The Prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) is a venomous pit viper species native to the western United States, southwestern Canada, and northern Mexico. Here are some key facts about this species:
Physical Characteristics:
– Adults range between 45.3 and 165 cm in length and weigh 227 to 361 g
– Possess a light brown to black tint on their dorsum and a yellow or cream-colored ventral surface
– Skin color can range from pale green to brown with a series of brown or black blotches ringed with a dark and then light line
– The blotches merge into rings on the rattle-tipped tail
– Has a triangular head, blunt nose, narrow neck, and stout body
Habitat:
– Found throughout the midwestern United States and extend from southwest Canada to the northwest part of Mexico
– Found in environments ranging from 100 to 2700 feet in elevation and in settings that are rocky or rugged, as well as open fields that are heavily populated with prey
– Found in forests because of the forest debris on the ground that can be used for protection
Behavior:
– Shake their rattle tail to warn potential predators
– Primarily feeds on small mammals like rats, mice, and rabbits, but also eats lizards and insects
– Solitary and communal dens are rare
It’s important to note that the Prairie rattlesnake is a venomous pit viper species that can be found in a diverse range of habitats and elevations in the western United States, southwestern Canada, and northern Mexico.
Desert massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii)
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The Desert massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii) is a subspecies of venomous pit viper in the family Viperidae. Here are some key facts about this species:
Physical Characteristics:
– Small rattlesnake that can grow up to 26 inches in length
– Has a light gray or white base color, with dark gray or gray-brown blotches
– Has a dark stripe along the side of its head
– Has an undivided anal scale and keeled scales in 25 dorsal scale rows in most Texas populations
– Body has gray or tan dorsal background color
– Brown vertebral blotches that run the length of the body contrast sharply with the background color
– Vertebral blotches are closely spaced together and do not flatten into bands on the tail
– An additional three rows of brown spots found laterally along the length of the body
– Prominent chocolate-colored stripe that runs through the eye and above the corner of the mouth
– Large adults can reach up to 66 cm (26 in) in length
Habitat:
– Found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico
– Shows a preference for prairie made up mainly of buffalograss and grama grasses and located below approximately 1,500 meters in elevation
– Hibernates in rodent burrows, including those of black-tailed prairie dogs
Behavior:
– Feeds primarily on lizards, mammals, and centipedes, as well as the occasional frog or toad
– The amount of food the snake eats depends on its size and age
– When courting a female, the male massasauga will rub his chin on her head and neck and loop his tail over hers in an intriguing courtship behavior
It’s important to note that the Desert massasauga is a small rattlesnake species that is found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
FAQS
1. How many types of rattlesnakes are found in New Mexico?
There are seven types of rattlesnakes found in New Mexico.
2. Are all rattlesnakes in New Mexico venomous?
Yes, all rattlesnakes found in New Mexico are venomous.
3. What are the physical characteristics of rattlesnakes in New Mexico?
Rattlesnakes in New Mexico have a triangular-shaped head, vertical pupils, and a rattle composed of keratin on the end of their tail. They also have a variety of color patterns and markings depending on the species.
4. What habitats do rattlesnakes in New Mexico prefer?
Rattlesnakes in New Mexico can be found in a variety of habitats, including deserts, grassy plains, forests, rocky hillsides, and areas along the coast.
5. What do rattlesnakes in New Mexico eat?
Rattlesnakes in New Mexico primarily feed on small mammals like rats, mice, and rabbits, but also eat lizards, insects, and occasionally frogs or toads.
6. Are rattlesnakes in New Mexico dangerous to humans?
Yes, rattlesnakes in New Mexico are venomous and potentially dangerous to humans. It’s important to exercise caution and avoid disturbing or provoking them.
7. What should I do if I encounter a rattlesnake in New Mexico?
If you encounter a rattlesnake in New Mexico, it’s important to give it plenty of space and avoid disturbing or provoking it. If you are bitten by a rattlesnake, seek medical attention immediately.
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