Prairie Rattlesnake

Venomous!!

Other Names: Western Rattlesnake
Scientific Name: Crotalus viridis
Family: Crotalidae

Description & Size

• Legless
• No eyelids
• Lacks external ears
• Each scale has a prominent ridge in the middle (strongly keeled)
• Rattle present on end of the tail
• Pit on each side of the head between the nostril and eye
• Vertical elliptical pupils
• Total length: 84.0-144.8 cm (33.1-57.0 in)
• Back color: greenish to gray to light brown
• Belly color: white
• Blotched patterning on the back

Life History

• Diurnal and nocturnal
• Active season: late March – mid-November
• Breeding season: late March – mid-summer
• Gives live birth
• 1-25 young per female

Habitat

• Short and mixed-grass prairie
• Prairie dog towns
• Rocky mesa, canyons, and outcrops

Diet

• Small mammals
• Rarely birds
• Rarely lizards