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Home > Snakes > Santa Catalina Rattlesnake

Santa Catalina Rattlesnake

Santa Catalina Rattlesnake is a species of relatively small, slender, venomous snake endemic to the Santa Catalina Island in the Gulf of California off the coast of Mexico. The species is mainly nocturnal and terrestrial. The most distinctive feature of this rattlesnake is that it lacks a rattle.



    Kingdom Animalia
    Phylum Chordata
    Class Reptilia
    Order Squamata
    Suborder Serpentes
    Family Viperidae
    Genus Crotalus
    Scientific Name Crotalus catalinensis


    Other Names Santa Catalina Island rattlesnake
    Length Up to 73.1 cm (28.8 in)
    Color Comes in two color variations; the common form has light cream base color with reddish-brown blotches down the back and black and white banding in the tail region; the other less frequent form is ash-gray with dark gray markings
    Distribution Found only on Santa Catalina Island in the Gulf of California off the east coast of the state of Baja California Sur, Mexico
    Habitat Found in the narrow, sandy, dry creeks known as arroyos with plenty of vegetation; can also be found under roots and rocks on the hillsides or in open areas of sandy soils
    Diet Rodents, lizards
    Predators Feral cats (introduced)
    Breeding Season Between spring and early summer
    IUCN Conservation Status Critically Endangered

    Santa Catalina Rattlesnake Pictures Gallery

    Published on August 18th 2017 by under Snakes. Article was last reviewed on 14th June 2019.

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