Crotalus pricei pricei
WESTERN TWIN-SPOTTED RATTLESNAKE
VAN DENBURGH 1895
All subspecies:
Crotalus pricei pricei
Crotalus pricei miquihuanus
The western twin-spotted rattlesnake is a small montane species that is isolated exclusively to rocky areas
in high elevations.
Description:
Crotalus p. pricei is a small but stocky species. Adults are quite stout and
muscular. The background color is either gray or brown throughout. Paired spots run along the back from the
neck to the tail. These spots are sometimes connected to form blotches and/or quite faded; making the snake
seemingly patternless. A dark eyestripe is commonly present and runs from the eye to the posterior corner of
the mouth.
| dorsal scale rows |
ventrals |
subcaudals |
supralabials |
infralabials |
| 21-25 |
 |
137-162 |
|
21-33 |
8-10 |
8-11 |
 |
143-171 |
|
18-27 |
Length:
This species reaches adult lengths between 50 - 60 cm with the largest measured adult being 66 cm long.
Newborn western twin-spotted rattlesnakes are approximately 20 cm in length.
Range:
| United States: |
 |
extreme southeastern Arizona. |
| Mexico: |
|
extreme northeastern Sonora to western Chihuahuan and south in a narrow band to
western Zacatecas. |
Habitat:
The western twin-spotted rattlesnake is isolated to high elevation mountains. They are found almost
exclusively in rocky talus slides and areas where rocky outcrops are present amongst montane forests.
Reproduction:
Up to 8 young are born during the summer.
