Western Black-Tailed Rattlesnake (Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish of the Kaibab National Forest)

Western Black-Tailed Rattlesnake

Crotalus molossus

Summary ⁵

Crotalus molossus is a venomous pit viper species found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Four subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Range description ⁶

The species' range extends from western, central, and southern Arizona, central and southern New Mexico, and southwestern and central Texas in the United States, south through Mexico to the southern edge of the Mexican Plateau and Mesa del Sur (Oaxaca), including Isla Tiburon in the Gulf of California, at elevations from near sea level up to around 2,930 m asl (9,600 feet) (Grismer 2002, Stebbins 2003, Campbell and Lamar 2004).