- SCIENTIFIC NAME
- Crotalus pyrrhus
- CLASSIFICATION
- Reptile
- LIFE SPAN
- 10-20 Years
- STATE CONSERVATION STATUS
-
- Unprotected
- FEDERAL CONSERVATION STATUS
- Least Concern
- GAME STATUS
- Non-Game
- GAME TYPE
- None
- Washoe
- Humboldt
- Pershing
- Churchill
- Mineral
- Lyon
- Douglas
- Carson City
- Storey
- Elko
- Lander
- Eureka
- White Pine
- Esmeralda
- Nye
- Lincoln
- Clark
Habitat & Range
The Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake occupies a small range in southeastern Nevada, where it overlaps with the Panamint Rattlesnake in some parts of the Las Vegas Valley. This elusive species thrives in rugged canyons and rocky mountain areas, especially near Clark County and closer to the Colorado River.
- Cliffs and Canyons
- Mojave desert
Threats
- Habitat Loss
- Human Development
An ambush predator, it spends much of its active season hunting small mammals, birds, and lizards. Like many desert reptiles, it remains inactive through the cold winter months, brumating in sheltered crevices. Once temperatures rise in the spring, the rattlesnake emerges to mate. By late summer, females give birth to live young, typically producing between three and eleven offspring in a single litter.
The Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake’s ability to blend into its rocky surroundings, combined with its venomous bite, makes it a well-adapted predator in its harsh desert habitat.
Fun Facts
OTHER Species
