PHOTOS	RANGE MAP

All subspecies:
Crotalus ruber ruber
Crotalus ruber elegans
Crotalus ruber lorenzoensis
Crotalus ruber lucasensis
Crotalus ruber monserratensis

The red diamond rattlesnake is commonly called the red diamondback rattlesnake. Although the correct common name is the red diamond rattlesnake, one can see how why it is called a red diamondback. This species appears to be a red version of the western diamondback rattlesnake. In fact, they are closely related; but two different species.

This species is synonymous with Crotalus exsul. Although Crotalus exsul is the older name and should properly be the correct scientific name for this taxa, IUCN was petitioned to keep the name ruber instead because it is much more commonly accepted.¹

Description:
For all intents and purposes, Crotalus ruber is essentially a redder version of the Crotalus atrox with colors ranging from a reddish tan or brown to brick red. The body patterning consists of diamond-shaped blotches with white borders. These blotches become elongated towards the tail. The tail itself is banded in black and white just like Crotalus atrox and an eyestripe runs from the eyes to the corners of the mouth. Specimens of the red diamond rattlesnake from the coastal region tend to have a much higher degree of red color to them and are sometimes referred to as coastal rubers. Further inland in southeastern California, animals are more brown or tan in color and are often referred to as the desert-phase ruber.

dorsal scale rows	ventrals		subcaudals		supralabials	infralabials
25-33		179-203		21-29	12-19	13-21
		183-206		15-25

Length:
The red diamond rattlesnake is a large species. Adults typically range anywhere from 90 - 120 cm and large adults measure over 150 cm in total length. Average neonate size is approximately 30 cm.

Range:

United States:		southwestern California.
Mexico:		western half of Baja California Norte south barely into Baja California Sur.

Habitat:
Crotalus ruber ruber is typically associated with desert scrub or the rocky canyons and hillsides. It is less commonly found in wetter, mesic areas that Crotalus oreganus helleri can be found in.

Reproduction:
Up to 20 young are born during the summer.