Crotalus atrox
Silhouette: Gabriela Palomo-Munoz · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
The western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) or western diamond-backed rattlesnake, is a rattlesnake species and member of the viper family, found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like all other rattlesnakes and all other vipers, it is venomous. It is likely responsible for the majority of snakebite fatalities in northern Mexico and the greatest number of snakebites in the U.S. No subspecies are currently recognized.
It lives in elevations from below sea level up to 6,500 feet (2,000 m). This species ranges throughout the Southwestern United States and northern half of Mexico. Currently, western diamondback rattlesnakes are not threatened or endangered.
Other common names for this species include western diamond-backed rattlesnake, adobe snake, Arizona diamond rattlesnake, coon tail, desert diamond-back, desert diamond rattlesnake, sand tail, fierce rattlesnake, spitting rattlesnake, buzz tail, Texan rattlesnake, Texas diamond-back, Texas bark and Texas rattler.
Adults commonly grow to 120 cm (4 ft) in length. Specimens over 150 cm (5 ft) are infrequently encountered, while those over 180 cm (6 ft) are very rare, and the largest... Wikipedia →
Recording0:09
United States · 2025
© miraclebennett · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recording0:09
United States · 2026
© Pete Zani (born @ 325 ppm) · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
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United States · 2023
© KB · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Big Bend National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Guadalupe Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Padre Island National Seashore | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Cumbres de Monterrey National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mesa | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Phoenix | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Austin | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | San Antonio | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Monterrey | 🇲🇽 México |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake sighting in Austin on a given day, based on 56 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 22nd most-seen of the 37 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
March–June and August–November
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake in Austin on a given day, against under 5% in July and December–February, the lowest months.
Between 9 pm and midnight
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Western Diamondback Rattlesnake sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.
Among the best
Of the 5 cities where we can rate Western Diamondback Rattlesnake sightings, Austin ranks 3rd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Mesa (United States, about 10%) and Phoenix (United States, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Austin (56 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
