
Photo credit:
Eric Centenero Alcala
Common name
Chihuahua Ridgenosed Rattlesnake
Scientific name
Crotalus willardi silus
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Federal and State Protections
Federally Protected (MX)
Countries of Occurrence
Mexico, US
States or Providence
Sonora (MX), Chihuahua (MX), New Mexico (US)
Counties
Adult size
15in (38cm) - 19.6in (50cm)
Species Description
The Chihuahua Ridgenosed Rattlesnake is a small species of rattlesnake found in the northern parts of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains in Mexico and a small region of the Animas Mountains in the US. It has the largest range of any C. willardi subspecies. They favor temperate pine-oak forests with streams or creek-beds, and are most active during the rainy season. This species is found at elevations of 5500 to 8000ft (1676 -2438m) above sea level.
A generalist predator, this species targets a wide variety of prey, including lizards, rodents and even centipedes.