List of rattlesnake species and subspecies
Encyclopedia
This list of rattlesnake species and subspecies includes the genera
Crotalus
and Sistrurus
. It follows the taxonomy
currently provided by ITIS
, which is based on the continuing work of Dr. Roy McDiarmid.
Crotalus
Sistrurus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Crotalus
Crotalus
Crotalus is a genus of venomous pit vipers found only in the Americas from southern Canada to northern Argentina. The name is derived from the Greek word krotalon, which means "rattle" or "castanet", and refers to the rattle on the end of the tail which makes this group so distinctive...
and Sistrurus
Sistrurus
Sistrurus is a genus of venomous pit vipers found in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The name is a Latinized form of the Greek word for "tail rattler" and shares its root with the ancient Egyptian musical instrument, the sistrum, a type of rattle...
. It follows the taxonomy
Alpha taxonomy
Alpha taxonomy is the discipline concerned with finding, describing and naming species of living or fossil organisms. This field is supported by institutions holding collections of these organisms, with relevant data, carefully curated: such institutes include natural history museums, herbaria and...
currently provided by ITIS
Integrated Taxonomic Information System
The Integrated Taxonomic Information System is a partnership designed to provide consistent and reliable information on the taxonomy of biological species. ITIS was originally formed in 1996 as an interagency group within the U.S...
, which is based on the continuing work of Dr. Roy McDiarmid.
CrotalusCrotalusCrotalus is a genus of venomous pit vipers found only in the Americas from southern Canada to northern Argentina. The name is derived from the Greek word krotalon, which means "rattle" or "castanet", and refers to the rattle on the end of the tail which makes this group so distinctive...
- Crotalus adamanteusCrotalus adamanteusCrotalus adamanteus is a venomous pit viper species found in the southeastern United States. It is the heaviest venomous snake in the Americas and the largest rattlesnake. It featured prominently in the American Revolution, specifically as the symbol of what many consider to be the first flag of...
, Eastern diamondback rattlesnake - Crotalus aquilusCrotalus aquilusCrotalus aquilus is a venomous pitviper species found in the highlands of central Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized. The specific name, aquilus, is Latin for "eagle" and refers to the high altitude at which this species is found....
, Queretaran dusky rattlesnake - Crotalus atroxCrotalus atroxCrotalus atrox, the "western diamondback rattlesnake", is a venomous rattlesnake species found in the United States and Mexico. It is likely responsible for the majority of snakebite fatalities in northern Mexico and the second greatest number in the USA after C. adamanteus. No subspecies are...
, Western diamondback rattlesnake - Crotalus basiliscusCrotalus basiliscusCrotalus basiliscus is a venomous pitviper species found in western Mexico. The specific name is derived from the Greek word for king, basiliskos, and is an allusion to this snake's large size and potent venom. No subspecies are currently recognized....
, Mexican west coast rattlesnake - Crotalus catalinensisCrotalus catalinensisCrotalus catalinensis is a venomous pitviper endemic to Isla Santa Catalina located in the Gulf of California just off the eastern coast of the state of Baja California Sur, Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized...
, Catalina Island rattlesnake - Crotalus cerastesCrotalus cerastesCrotalus cerastes is a venomous pitviper species found in the desert regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Sidewinder- Crotalus cerastes cerastesCrotalus cerastesCrotalus cerastes is a venomous pitviper species found in the desert regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Mojave desert sidewinder - Crotalus cerastes cercobombusCrotalus cerastes cercobombusCrotalus cerastes cercobombus is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in an area that covers much of the eastern part of the Sonoran Desert in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico...
, Sonoran sidewinder - Crotalus cerastes laterorepensCrotalus cerastes laterorepensCrotalus cerastes laterorepens is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in an area that centers around the Colorado Desert in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.-Description:...
, Colorado desert sidewinder
- Crotalus cerastes cerastes
- Crotalus durissusCrotalus durissusCrotalus durissus is a venomous pitviper species found in South America. The most widely distributed member of its genus, this species poses a serious medical problem in many parts of its range...
, South American rattlesnake- Crotalus durissus cumanensis, Venezuelan rattlesnake
- Crotalus durissus durissusCrotalus durissusCrotalus durissus is a venomous pitviper species found in South America. The most widely distributed member of its genus, this species poses a serious medical problem in many parts of its range...
, Cascabel rattlesnake - Crotalus durissus marajoensis, Marajoan rattlesnake
- Crotalus durissus maricelae
- Crotalus durissus ruruima, Mt. Roraima rattlesnake
- Crotalus durissus terrificus, South American rattlesnake
- Crotalus durissus trigonicus, Rupunini rattlesnake
- Crotalus durissus unicolorCrotalus durissus unicolorCrotalus durissus unicolor is a venomous pitviper subspecies found only on the Caribbean island of Aruba, off the coast of Venezuela. Critically endangered, it is estimated that fewer than 230 adults survive in the wild. Sometimes still treated as a full species.-Description:Moderately sized, this...
, Aruba Island rattlesnake - Crotalus durissus vegrandisCrotalus durissus vegrandisCrotalus durissus vegrandis is a venomous pitviper subspecies found only in Venezuela in South America.-Description:Klauber gives two maximum lengths for this dwarfed form of C...
, Uracoan rattlesnake
- Crotalus enyoCrotalus enyoCrotalus enyo is a venomous pitviper species native to the coast and islands of northwestern Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Baja rattlesnake- Crotalus enyo cerralvensis, Cerralvo Island rattlesnake
- Crotalus enyo enyoCrotalus enyoCrotalus enyo is a venomous pitviper species native to the coast and islands of northwestern Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Lower California rattlesnake - Crotalus enyo furvus, Rosario rattlesnake
- Crotalus horridusCrotalus horridusCrotalus horridus, the timber rattlesnake, is a species of venomous pitviper found in the eastern United States. This is the only rattlesnake species in most of the populous northeastern United States. No subspecies are currently recognized....
, Timber rattlesnake - Crotalus intermediusCrotalus intermediusCrotalus intermedius is a venomous pitviper species found in central and southern Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Mexican small-headed rattlesnake- Crotalus intermedius gloydiCrotalus intermedius gloydiCrotalus intermedius gloydi is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in Mexico in the states of Oaxaca and Puebla.-Description:This subspecies can be identified by its scalation. It is characterized by having postnasal scale that is in broad contact with the first supralabial scale...
, Oaxacan small-headed rattlesnake - Crotalus intermedius intermediusCrotalus intermediusCrotalus intermedius is a venomous pitviper species found in central and southern Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Totalcan small-headed rattlesnake - Crotalus intermedius omiltemanusCrotalus intermedius omiltemanusCrotalus intermedius omiltemanus is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in Mexico in the state of Guerrero.-Description:This subspecies can be distinguished from the typical form Crotalus intermedius omiltemanus is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in Mexico in the state of...
, Omilteman small-headed rattlesnake
- Crotalus intermedius gloydi
- Crotalus lannomiCrotalus lannomiCrotalus lannomi is a venomous pitviper species found in Mexico in Jalisco. Known from only a single specimen. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description:...
, Autlan rattlesnake - Crotalus lepidusCrotalus lepidusCrotalus lepidus is a venomous pitviper species found in the southwestern United States and northern central Mexico. Four subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Rock rattlesnake- Crotalus lepidus klauberiCrotalus lepidus klauberiCrotalus lepidus klauberi is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in the southern United States, in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, and northern Mexico, including the states of Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Durango, Zacatecas, San luis Potosi and Jalisco...
, Banded rock rattlesnake - Crotalus lepidus lepidusCrotalus lepidusCrotalus lepidus is a venomous pitviper species found in the southwestern United States and northern central Mexico. Four subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Mottled rock rattlesnake - Crotalus lepidus maculosus, Durango rock rattlesnake
- Crotalus lepidus morulus, Tamaulipan rock rattlesnake
- Crotalus lepidus klauberi
- Crotalus mitchelliiCrotalus mitchelliiCrotalus mitchellii is a venomous pitviper species found in the Southwestern United States, and in northern Mexico. It was named in honor of Silas Weir Mitchell , a medical doctor who also studied rattlesnake venoms...
, Speckled rattlesnake- Crotalus mitchellii angelensisCrotalus mitchellii angelensisCrotalus mitchellii angelensis is a venomous pitviper subspecies endemic to Angel de la Guarda Island in the Gulf of California, Mexico.-Geographic range:Found only on Angel de la Guarda Island in the Gulf of California, Mexico...
, Angel de la Guarda Island speckled rattlesnake - Crotalus mitchellii mitchelliiCrotalus mitchelliiCrotalus mitchellii is a venomous pitviper species found in the Southwestern United States, and in northern Mexico. It was named in honor of Silas Weir Mitchell , a medical doctor who also studied rattlesnake venoms...
, San Lucan speckled rattlesnake - Crotalus mitchellii muertensisCrotalus mitchellii muertensisCrotalus mitchellii muertensis is a venomous pitviper subspecies endemic to El Muerto Island, Mexico.-Geographic range:Known only from the type locality, which is "El Muerto Island, Gulf of California, Mexico.-Conservation status:...
, El Muerto Island speckled rattlesnake - Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhusCrotalus mitchellii pyrrhusCrotalus mitchellii pyrrhus is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. A medium-sized snake, it is found mostly in rocky country, active at night and feeding on small mammals...
, Southwestern speckled rattlesnake - Crotalus mitchellii stephensi, Panamint rattlesnake
- Crotalus mitchellii angelensis
- Crotalus molossusCrotalus molossusCrotalus molossus is a venomous pitviper species found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Four subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Black-tailed rattlesnake- Crotalus molossus estebanensisCrotalus molossus estebanensisCrotalus molossus estebanensis is a venomous pitviper subspecies endemic to San Estéban Island, Mexico.-Geographic range:Known only from the type locality, which is "San Estéban Island, Gulf of California, Mexico.-Conservation status:...
, San Esteban Island black-tailed rattlesnake - Crotalus molossus molossusCrotalus molossusCrotalus molossus is a venomous pitviper species found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Four subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Northern black-tailed rattlesnake - Crotalus molossus nigrescens, Mexican black-tailed rattlesnake
- Crotalus molossus oaxacus, Oaxacan black-tailed rattlesnake
- Crotalus molossus estebanensis
- Crotalus oreganusCrotalus oreganusCrotalus oreganus is a venomous pitviper species found in North America in the western United States, parts of British Columbia and northwestern Mexico. Seven subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here....
, Western rattlesnake- Crotalus oreganus abyssus, Grand Canyon rattlesnake
- Crotalus oreganus caliginisCrotalus oreganus caliginisCrotalus oreganus caliginis is a venomous pitviper subspecies endemic to South Coronado Island, Mexico.-Geographic range:Known only from the type locality, given as "South Coronado Island, off the northwest coast of Baja California, Mexico."...
, Coronado Island rattlesnake - Crotalus oreganus cerberusCrotalus oreganus cerberusCrotalus oreganus cerberus is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in the southwestern United States.-Description:According to Wright and Wright , adults grow to an average length of 78-109 cm...
, Arizona black rattlesnake - Crotalus oreganus concolorCrotalus oreganus concolorCrotalus oreganus concolor is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in the western United States. A small species known for its faded color pattern.-Description:Grows to a maximum length of 750 mm...
, Midget faded rattlesnake - Crotalus oreganus helleri, Southern Pacific rattlesnake
- Crotalus oreganus lutosusCrotalus oreganus lutosusCrotalus oreganus lutosus is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in the Great Basin region of the United States.-Description:Adult specimens are 66-121 cm in length, but rarely exceed an overall length of 1 m...
, Great Basin rattlesnake - Crotalus oreganus oreganusCrotalus oreganusCrotalus oreganus is a venomous pitviper species found in North America in the western United States, parts of British Columbia and northwestern Mexico. Seven subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here....
, Northern Pacific rattlesnake
- Crotalus polystictusCrotalus polystictusCrotalus polystictus is a venomous pitviper species found in central Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description:Adults usually grow to 60-70 cm, although exceptionally large specimens may be as much as 100 cm in length....
, Mexican lancehead rattlesnake - Crotalus priceiCrotalus priceiCrotalus pricei is a venomous pitviper species found in the United States and Mexico. Currently, two subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:Adults usually do not exceed 50–60 cm in length...
, Twin-spotted rattlesnake- Crotalus pricei miquihuanus, Eastern twin spotted rattlesnake
- Crotalus pricei priceiCrotalus priceiCrotalus pricei is a venomous pitviper species found in the United States and Mexico. Currently, two subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:Adults usually do not exceed 50–60 cm in length...
, Western twin spotted rattlesnake
- Crotalus pusillusCrotalus pusillusCrotalus pusillus is a venomous pitviper species found in west-central Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description:Adult males may grow to more than 50 cm in length. Females are smaller. The largest recorded length for a specimen is 68.2 cm.-Behavior:Campbell and Lamar stated that...
, Tancitaran dusky rattlesnake - Crotalus ruberCrotalus ruberCrotalus ruber is a venomous pitviper species found in southwestern California in the United States and Baja California in Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Red diamond rattlesnake- Crotalus ruber lorenzoensisCrotalus ruber lorenzoensisCrotalus ruber lorenzoensis is a venomous pitviper subspecies endemic to San Lorenzo Sur Island, Mexico.-Description:This subspecies usually has no rattle, and has shranked in size compared to some of its other subspecies counterparts on the mainland....
, San Lorenzo Island diamond rattlesnake - Crotalus ruber lucansensis, San Lucan diamond rattlesnake
- Crotalus ruber ruberCrotalus ruberCrotalus ruber is a venomous pitviper species found in southwestern California in the United States and Baja California in Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Red diamond rattlesnake
- Crotalus ruber lorenzoensis
- Crotalus scutulatusCrotalus scutulatusCrotalus scutulatus is a venomous pitviper species found in the deserts of the southwestern United States and central Mexico. It is perhaps best known for its potent neurotoxic venom...
, Mojave rattlesnake- Crotalus scutulatus salvini, Huamantlan rattlesnake
- Crotalus scutulatus scutulatusCrotalus scutulatusCrotalus scutulatus is a venomous pitviper species found in the deserts of the southwestern United States and central Mexico. It is perhaps best known for its potent neurotoxic venom...
, Mojave rattlesnake
- Crotalus simusCrotalus simusCrotalus simus is a venomous pitviper species found in Mexico and Central America. The specific epithet is Latin for "flat nosed"; likely an allusion to the fact that its head is relatively blunt when compared with the lanceheads...
, Middle American rattlesnake- Crotalus simus culminatus, Northwestern neotropical rattlesnake
- Crotalus simus simusCrotalus simusCrotalus simus is a venomous pitviper species found in Mexico and Central America. The specific epithet is Latin for "flat nosed"; likely an allusion to the fact that its head is relatively blunt when compared with the lanceheads...
, Middle American rattlesnake - Crotalus simus tzabcan, Yucatán neotropical rattlesnake
- Crotalus stejnegeriCrotalus stejnegeriCrotalus stejnegeri is a venomous pitviper species found in western Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description:Adults do not usually grow to more than 60 cm in length. The greatest length recorded for a specimen is 72.4 cm. The tail is relatively long, representing 11-14.8% of the...
, Long-tail rattlesnake - Crotalus tigrisCrotalus tigrisCrotalus tigris is a venomous pit viper species found in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized. The specific name is Latin for tiger and is an allusion to many narrow dorsal crossbands that create a pattern of vertical stripes.-Description: A...
, Tiger rattlesnake - Crotalus tortugensisCrotalus tortugensisCrotalus tortugensis is a venomous pitviper species found only on Tortuga Island in the Gulf of California. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description:...
, Tortuga Island diamond rattlesnake - Crotalus totonacusCrotalus totonacusCrotalus totonacus is a venomous pitviper species found in northeastern Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description:Adults frequently grow to more than 150 cm in length...
, Totonacan rattlesnake - Crotalus transversusCrotalus transversusCrotalus transversus is a venomous pitviper species found in central Mexico, known from less than 20 specimens. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description:Adults grow to a maximum recorded length of 46.5 cm...
, Cross-banded mountain rattlesnake - Crotalus triseriatusCrotalus triseriatusCrotalus triseriatus is a venomous pitviper species found in Mexico. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Dusky rattlesnake- Crotalus triseriatus armstrongi, Dusky rattlesnake
- Crotalus triseratus triseriatusCrotalus triseriatusCrotalus triseriatus is a venomous pitviper species found in Mexico. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Western dusky rattlesnake
- Crotalus viridisCrotalus viridisCrotalus viridis is a venomous pitviper species native to the western United States, southwestern Canada, and northern Mexico. Currently, nine subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Prairie rattlesnake- Crotalus viridis nuntiusCrotalus viridis nuntiusCrotalus viridis nuntius is a venomous pitviper subspecies native primarily to the desert plateau of the northeastern portion of the American state of Arizona, but also ranges into northwestern New Mexico. Named for the Native American Hopi tribe, which inhabits the region, its range overlaps that...
, Hopi rattlesnake - Crotalus viridis viridisCrotalus viridisCrotalus viridis is a venomous pitviper species native to the western United States, southwestern Canada, and northern Mexico. Currently, nine subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Prairie rattlesnake
- Crotalus viridis nuntius
- Crotalus willardiCrotalus willardiCrotalus willardi is a venomous pitviper species found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is the most recent rattlesnake species to be discovered in the United States. Its specific name is in honor of its discoverer, Professor Frank C. Willard. Five subspecies are currently...
, Ridge-nosed rattlesnake- Crotalus willardi amabilis, Del Nido ridge-nosed rattlesnake
- Crotalus willardi meridionalis, Southern ridge-nosed rattlesnake
- Crotalus willardi obscurusCrotalus willardi obscurusCrotalus willardi obscurus is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States.This is the only venomous snake listed as Threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.-Description:...
, New Mexican ridge-nosed rattlesnake - Crotalus willardi silus, Western Chihuahuan ridge-nosed rattlesnake
- Crotalus willardi willardiCrotalus willardiCrotalus willardi is a venomous pitviper species found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is the most recent rattlesnake species to be discovered in the United States. Its specific name is in honor of its discoverer, Professor Frank C. Willard. Five subspecies are currently...
, Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake
SistrurusSistrurusSistrurus is a genus of venomous pit vipers found in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The name is a Latinized form of the Greek word for "tail rattler" and shares its root with the ancient Egyptian musical instrument, the sistrum, a type of rattle...
- Sistrurus catenatusSistrurus catenatusSistrurus catenatus is a venomous pitviper species found primarily in the United States. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Massasauga- Sistrurus catenatus catenatusSistrurus catenatusSistrurus catenatus is a venomous pitviper species found primarily in the United States. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Eastern massasauga - Sistrurus catenatus edwardsiiSistrurus catenatus edwardsiiSistrurus catenatus edwardsii is a venomous snake pitviper subspecies found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. In places its range overlaps that of S. c. tergeminus) and intergrading of the two subspecies is not unknown....
, Desert massasauga - Sistrurus catenatus tergeminusSistrurus catenatus tergeminusSistrurus catenatus tergeminus is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in the southwestern plains of the United States. In some areas its range overlaps that of another subspecies, S. c. edwardsii, and intergrading of the two is not unknown....
, Western massasauga
- Sistrurus catenatus catenatus
- Sistrurus miliariusSistrurus miliariusSistrurus miliarius is a venomous pitviper species found in the southeastern United States. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Pigmy rattlesnake- Sistrurus miliarius barbouriSistrurus miliarius barbouriSistrurus miliarius barbouri is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in the southeastern United States.-Description: Adults grow to between 35.5 and 76 cm in length . In a study that involved 103 males and 80 females, the average length was 53.5 cm. Snellings and Collins reported a specimen...
, Dusky pigmy rattlesnake - Sistrurus miliarius miliariusSistrurus miliariusSistrurus miliarius is a venomous pitviper species found in the southeastern United States. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Carolina pigmy rattlesnake - Sistrurus miliarius streckeriSistrurus miliarius streckeriSistrurus miliarius streckeri is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in the south-central United States.-Description:Adult specimens are 40-63 cm in length. In one study, the average length of 55 males and 49 females was 52 cm....
, Western pigmy rattlesnake
- Sistrurus miliarius barbouri
- Sistrurus ravusSistrurus ravusSistrurus ravus is a venomous pitviper species, found only in Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Mexican pigmy rattlesnake- Sistrurus ravus brunneus, Oaxacan pigmy rattlesnake
- Sistrurus ravus exigus, Guerreran pigmy rattlesnake
- Sistrurus ravus ravusSistrurus ravusSistrurus ravus is a venomous pitviper species, found only in Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
, Central Plateau pigmy rattlesnake