Venomous animals in Arizona
The ones that need the most respect: western diamondback rattlesnake, western rattlesnake, prairie rattlesnake, sidewinder. A bite from any of them is a medical emergency.
- 11 dangerous
- 6 medically significant
- 5 painful, rarely serious
Where they turn up in Arizona
- None recorded
- 1 species
- 2
- 3 to 4
- 5 or more
Venomous snakes in Arizona
Western diamondback rattlesnakeDangerous2,913 records, 13 counties
Western rattlesnakeDangerous445 records, 12 counties
Prairie rattlesnakeDangerous638 records, 13 counties
SidewinderDangerous1,442 records, 11 counties
Mojave rattlesnakeDangerous2,809 records, 13 counties
Black-tailed rattlesnakeDangerous1,054 records, 13 counties
Speckled rattlesnakeDangerous251 records, 8 counties
Rock rattlesnakeDangerous423 records, 3 counties
Tiger rattlesnakeDangerous483 records, 7 counties
Twin-spotted rattlesnakeDangerous325 records, 5 counties
Ridge-nosed rattlesnakeDangerous136 records, 4 counties
Western massasaugaMedically significant17 records, 1 county
Sonoran coral snakeMedically significant516 records, 13 counties
Venomous snakes in Arizona: map, photos and look-alikes
Venomous spiders in Arizona
Black widowMedically significant365 records, 14 counties
Desert recluseMedically significant13 records, 6 counties
TarantulaPainful, rarely serious527 records, 13 counties
Venomous spiders in Arizona: map, photos and look-alikes
Scorpions in Arizona
Arizona bark scorpionMedically significant306 records, 12 counties
Giant desert hairy scorpionPainful, rarely serious139 records, 8 counties
Northern scorpionPainful, rarely serious5 records, 2 counties
Scorpions in Arizona: map, photos and look-alikes
Centipedes in Arizona
Tiger centipedePainful, rarely serious158 records, 12 counties
Giant desert centipedePainful, rarely serious73 records, 6 counties
Centipedes in Arizona: map, photos and look-alikes
Venomous lizards in Arizona
When they are out
- Venomous snakes
- Venomous spiders
- Scorpions
- Centipedes
- Venomous lizards
Recorded, but not living here
- Rare records Brown widow 4 open records, latest 1996
A rare record means someone found or reported the animal once or a few times, but there is no known population. Many are strays, pets or hitchhikers in cargo.
Harmless look-alikes in Arizona
- Rattlesnake vs Gopher Snake Gopher snake is harmless
Quick answers for Arizona
- Lives here Rattlesnakes
- Not here Copperheads
- Not here Cottonmouths
- Lives here Coral snakes
- Not here Brown recluses
- Lives here Black widows
- Lives here Tarantulas
- Lives here Gila monsters
Questions
How many venomous snakes live in Arizona?
13 species: Western diamondback rattlesnake, Western rattlesnake, Prairie rattlesnake, Sidewinder, Mojave rattlesnake, Black-tailed rattlesnake, Speckled rattlesnake, Rock rattlesnake, Tiger rattlesnake, Twin-spotted rattlesnake, Ridge-nosed rattlesnake, Western massasauga and Sonoran coral snake.
Are there brown recluse spiders in Arizona?
No. GBIF holds 2 isolated records of the brown recluse from Arizona, far from its range. That is most likely a captive animal or a mislabeled record.
Are there scorpions in Arizona?
Yes: Arizona bark scorpion, Giant desert hairy scorpion and Northern scorpion.
When are venomous animals most active in Arizona?
Most open records from Arizona fall in July to September. Records follow when people are outdoors too, so treat this as a guide, not a rule.
What should I do after a bite or sting?
Call 911 for any venomous snakebite or a severe reaction. For spider bites and scorpion stings, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, free and open 24/7.