Back to Species Index
Reptiles
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
Authorship: Baird and Girard
Notes
Chavarria et al. 2021, reported an individual eating a chicken femur at IMRS HQ.
Records
It is ubiquitous on IMRS and frequently encountered at Peccary Tank, Red Tank, IMRS HQ, Echo Spring, and Double Tank Corral area by UTEP personnel.
Sources
[Couvillon, 2011a, b, Mata-Silva et al., 2011, Mata-Silva and Johnson, 2014; Photo]
Taxonomic Classification
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
SubphylumVERTEBRATA (Vertebrates)
ClassReptilia (Reptiles)
OrderSquamata (Lizards and Snakes)
SuborderSerpentes (Snakes)
FamilyVIPERIDAE (Viper Family)
GenusCrotalus
Speciesatrox
Recent Observations
Sourced from iNaturalist
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (opens in new tab)IMRS
IMRS
IMRS
IMRS
IMRS
IMRS
IMRS
IMRS
IMRS
IMRS
IMRSjohndeitschAug 11, 2026Hudspeth County, TX, USA
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (opens in new tab)IMRSjohndeitschApr 25, 2026Hudspeth County, TX, USA
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (opens in new tab)IMRSjohndeitschApr 24, 2026Hudspeth County, TX, USA
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (opens in new tab)IMRSjohndeitschAug 31, 2024Hudspeth County, TX, USA
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (opens in new tab)IMRSjohndeitschMar 13, 2024Hudspeth County, TX, USA
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (opens in new tab)IMRSsamherrenOct 25, 2023Fort Hancock, TX, US
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (opens in new tab)IMRStaniquejonesOct 15, 2023Hudspeth County, TX, USA
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (opens in new tab)IMRSrrnajeraSep 23, 2023Van Horn, TX 79855, USA
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (opens in new tab)IMRShighsingerApr 1, 2023Hudspeth County, TX, USA
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (opens in new tab)IMRSmichaelmatthews98Oct 8, 2022Fort Hancock, TX, US
Conservation assessments from the following sources:
- NatureServe Explorer
- IUCN Red List
- Texas Parks & Wildlife — Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)
| IUCN Red List | LCLeast Concern |
|---|---|
| NatureServe Global (opens in new tab) | G5Secure |
| NatureServe (Texas) (opens in new tab) | S4Apparently Secure |
| Texas SGCN | Not assessed |
Theses, papers, and notes featuring this species.
- Crotalus atrox (Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake). Longevity, growth, and movement in the wild. (opens in new tab)Johnson, J. D., G. H. Wiseman, J. Sandoval-Alva, A. Rocha, and V. Mata-Silva · 2022 · Herpetological Review 53(4): 693–694 · Natural History Note
- Crotalus atrox (Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake). Diet. (opens in new tab)Chavarria, C. A., A. Moreno, A. Benson-Pedraza, L. M. Horne, O. Da Cunha, J. J. Mead, J. D. Johnson, and V. Mata-Silva · 2021 · Herpetological Review 52(4): 866–867 · Natural History Note
- Movement Ecology of a Cryptic Ambush Predator: Case Studies Integrating Traditional and Novel Techniques in Snake Ecology with Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox). (opens in new tab)DeSantis, D. L. · 2019 · Dissertation
- Crotalus atrox (Western Diamondback Rattlesnake). Rain Harvesting Behavior. (opens in new tab)Mata-Silva, V., and J. D. Johnson · 2014 · Herpetological Review 45(3): 514–515 · Natural History Note
- Crotalus atrox (Western Diamondback Rattlesnake). Diet. (opens in new tab)Mata-Silva, V., J. D. Johnson, R. Couvillon, W. Lukefahr, and A. Rocha · 2011 · Herpetological Review 42(3): 438–439 · Natural History Note
- Ecological study of oxygen consumption in three species of rattlesnakes, Crotalus atrox, Crotalus lepidus, and Crotalus molossus (Viperidae) from the northern Chihuahuan Desert. (opens in new tab)Miranda, L. · 2009 · Thesis