Description: Color patterns are generally a dark/brown base with pale or white horizontal striping. It rarely weighs more than 3-4 ounces as an adult or exceeds 24 inches in length. Its upturned nose scales give this species its common name. It has bold, white stripes on its brown face causing some people to speculate that the Chiricahua Apaches modeled their war paint after this snake's facial markings.

Habitat: Wooded mountain ranges, primarily in the southwest, are where this reclusive species is found. They can be found between 5000-9000 feet elevation in canyons and forests.

Range: This small rattlesnake can be found in the "sky islands" of Arizona and Sonora: isolated mountain ranges surrounded by desert.

Found in these States: AZ

Venom: This snake's venom does not appear to be particularly potent and no human deaths from its bite are on record.

Diet: Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnakes are a generalist predator which preys on lizards, mice, and centipedes.

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

Status: While globally this subspecies is listed as Species of Least Concern, Arizona has it listed as Imperiled and New Mexico has it listed as Critically Imperiled.

Taxonomy: