Mojave Rattlesnake
VenomousCrotalus scutulatus · also called Mojave green
The Mojave rattlesnake matters because of its venom. Many populations carry a potent neurotoxic component absent from most other North American rattlesnakes, which can produce delayed and severe symptoms including difficulty breathing. It closely resembles the western diamondback and shares much of its range, so the tail rings are worth learning.
Before anything else
- Back away and leave it alone. A snake that can see you leaving has no reason to bite. Most bites in the United States happen to people who picked up, cornered, or tried to kill a snake.
- Never handle a snake to identify it. Every identification on this site can be made from a photo or from several feet away.
- If someone is bitten, call emergency services now. Keep the limb still and below the heart, remove rings and watches, and go to hospital. Do not cut, suck, apply ice, or use a tourniquet — all of these make outcomes worse.
- Do not try to catch the snake for identification. A photo from a distance is enough, and hospitals treat symptoms rather than species.
In the US, the Poison Help line is 1-800-222-1222. This site is a reference, not medical advice.
Quick facts
- Venom
- Potentially the most dangerous snakebite in the United States. Symptoms can be delayed several hours, so a bite requires immediate hospital assessment even if it initially seems mild. Tell medical staff you suspect a Mojave rattlesnake.
- Adult length
- 24–45 inches (61–114 cm)
- Markings
- Diamonds with clearer white borders than a western diamondback's, on a ground colour that often carries a greenish tint. The white tail rings are noticeably wider than the black ones.
- Habitat
- desert, grassland
- Family
- pit viper
- Range
- 6 US states
How to identify a mojave rattlesnake
- White tail rings clearly wider than the black rings — the reverse of a western diamondback.
- Pale diagonal face stripe passes behind the angle of the jaw rather than meeting the mouth line.
- Diamond borders are cleaner and whiter than a western diamondback's.
- Often a greenish cast, though this is unreliable on its own.
What it does when it sees you
Defends itself readily and rattles loudly. Most active at dusk and after dark in hot weather, which is when most encounters happen.
What the mojave rattlesnake is confused with
One test settles each of these.
Compare the tail rings: equal black and white bands mean western diamondback, wider white bands mean Mojave.