This small rattlesnake can be found in the "sky islands" of Arizona and Sonora: isolated mountain ranges surrounded by desert. As such, they can be found between 5000-9000ft elevation in canyons and forests.

Their tannish coloration helps them to blend into leaf litter in the vegetated montane habitats which they inhabit. Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnakes are a generalist predator which preys on lizards, mice, and centipedes.

Females give birth to between 2-9 young in the summer (July - August), and babies are on average just 20cm (8in) when born.

Fun fact: The Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake is the state reptile of Arizona!