Are there rattlesnakes in Texas?
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake: Only as rare records. GBIF holds 4 open records of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake from Texas, but there is no known population.
Western diamondback rattlesnake: Yes. The western diamondback rattlesnake lives in Texas. Open records come from 167 counties.
Timber rattlesnake: Yes. The timber rattlesnake lives in Texas. Open records come from 50 counties.
Prairie rattlesnake: Yes. The prairie rattlesnake lives in Texas. Open records come from 81 counties.
Mojave rattlesnake: Yes. The Mojave rattlesnake lives in Texas. Open records come from 9 counties.
Black-tailed rattlesnake: Yes. The black-tailed rattlesnake lives in Texas. Open records come from 25 counties.
Rock rattlesnake: Yes. The rock rattlesnake lives in Texas. Open records come from 15 counties.
Ridge-nosed rattlesnake: Only as rare records. GBIF holds 1 open record of the ridge-nosed rattlesnake from Texas, but there is no known population.
Pygmy rattlesnake: Yes. The pygmy rattlesnake lives in Texas. Open records come from 34 counties.
Western massasauga: Yes. The western massasauga lives in Texas. Open records come from 32 counties.
Where in Texas
- None recorded
- 1 species
- 2
- 3 to 4
- 5 or more
Rattlesnakes across the US
- Lives here
- Rare records
- Gone
- Not here
How to recognize them
Western diamondback rattlesnake Crotalus atrox
- Gray to tan with dusty diamond blotches
- Black and white bands of equal width just before the rattle
- Two pale stripes on the face
Dangerous. Responsible for many of the serious snakebites in the Southwest. A bite is a medical emergency.
Timber rattlesnake Crotalus horridus
- Dark V- or chevron-shaped bands across the back
- Black tail ending in a rattle
- Yellow, tan or dark phases; some are almost black
Dangerous. Usually calm and slow to strike, but a bite is a medical emergency.
Prairie rattlesnake Crotalus viridis
- Greenish gray to brown with dark blotches down the back
- Blotches narrow into bands near the tail
- Two pale lines on the side of the face
Dangerous. The only rattlesnake across most of the northern plains. A bite is a medical emergency.
Mojave rattlesnake Crotalus scutulatus
- Greenish to tan with diamonds that have clean pale edges
- White tail bands wider than the black ones
- Pale stripe behind the eye ends above the corner of the mouth
Dangerous. Venom in many populations carries a strong nerve toxin. A bite is a medical emergency even if it looks mild at first.
Often mistaken for rattlesnakes
- Rattlesnake vs Gopher Snake Gopher snake: harmless, lives in Texas
- Eastern Diamondback vs Timber Rattlesnake Timber rattlesnake: dangerous, lives in Texas
- Timber Rattlesnake vs Copperhead Copperhead: medically significant, lives in Texas
- Western Diamondback vs Mojave Rattlesnake Mojave rattlesnake: dangerous, lives in Texas
- Pygmy Rattlesnake vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake: harmless, lives in Texas
Questions
Are there rattlesnakes in Texas?
Yes. 8 species live in Texas: Western diamondback rattlesnake, Timber rattlesnake, Prairie rattlesnake, Mojave rattlesnake, Black-tailed rattlesnake, Rock rattlesnake, Pygmy rattlesnake and Western massasauga.
What do rattlesnakes look like?
Dark diamonds with pale yellow edges down the back. Two pale diagonal stripes on each side of the face. Thick body and a rattle on the tail.