Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Crotalus atrox

Also known as Albino Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

reptiles4 U.S. zoos
Where to see one
4 U.S. zoos in our directory hold western diamondback rattlesnake, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.

Conservation status

Not Evaluated

This species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, so it sits outside the threat scale entirely.

About the western diamondback rattlesnake

The western diamondback rattlesnake is a venomous viper of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, living at elevations from below sea level up to about 2,000 m. Adults commonly reach 120 cm, and the khaki, brown-blotched pattern gives way to diamond-shaped markings and a tail banded in black and white, which earned it the nickname coontail. It hunts or ambushes prey at night or in the early morning, and small mammals made up nearly 95 percent of the prey by weight in one Texas study. Birds, lizards and amphibians are also eaten. It is likely responsible for the greatest number of snakebites in the United States.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake facts

  • In the wild it can go up to two years without food.
  • In a starvation study its energy expenditure fell by an average of 80 percent.
  • The tail has two to eight black bands, which led to the nickname coontail.
  • Males grow much larger than females, but only after reaching sexual maturity.

Where to see western diamondback rattlesnake in the U.S.

4 zoos across 4 states

Find the closest one

Rank the 4 zoos holding western diamondback rattlesnake by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.

Missouri· 1

Oklahoma· 1

Pennsylvania· 1

Texas· 1

AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this

Built from each zoo's own published animal list.

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