Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

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Steve Bledsoe
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Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by Steve Bledsoe »

A herper friend of mine In Arizona sent me this photo and asked what I thought the species might be.
All I can tell you is that this snake was found in Green Valley, AZ. My friend has no other information, and has only seen this one photo of it.

Any ideas?

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ricrabt
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by ricrabt »

Black tail x WD? Looks nuts....
RobertH
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by RobertH »

Atrox/Cerberus Hybrid? It looks very atrox. It also looks very cerberus.
Nicholas
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ricrabt
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by ricrabt »

RobertH wrote:Atrox/Cerberus Hybrid? It looks very atrox. It also looks very cerberus.
Nicholas
I though that too, but I'm trying to think of snakes found in Green Valley.
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John Delgado
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by John Delgado »

cerberus X atrox ... maybe.

Just a bit south and out of region for cerberus ... but FWIW ... that dorsal and side panel is cerberus, and the tail of course is classic WDB

A relocated cerberus finds a home in the den of atrox and mates with ... close vicinity region ... not impossible.

Fascinating picture.
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by RobertH »

I didn't catch the Green Valley part.
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by RobertH »

I also wouldn't be surprised if it was just a very dark atrox though. That would be my best guess.
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ratsnakehaven
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by ratsnakehaven »

My guess is atrox. No cerbs in GV. It's also a pretty young snake.
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Steve Bledsoe
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by Steve Bledsoe »

Input from other sources is leaning towards a dark atrox.
I'm told that this animal may end up at the Arizona - Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson. If it does, we may get an answer.

In the meantime, it's interesting to hear everyone's responses.
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ricrabt
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by ricrabt »

Dark Atrox is possible, but young Atrox are so different. Perhaps a pet hybrid release. Another thought is photo shop, but if they have the snake then it's real. Whatever it is, it is a great find. Keep us posted.....
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Bryan Hamilton
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by Bryan Hamilton »

I don't see much atrox in that snake, alot more oreganus(y).

How far are the nearest cerberus from Green Valley?

Hopefully someone will analyze the DNA?
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Steve Bledsoe
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by Steve Bledsoe »

The nearest natural cerberus habitat I'm aware of is about 30 miles north of Green Valley in the Catalina Mountains.

Who's to say this isn't an escapee Hybrid? Anything's possible these days.

From what I know, this snake was removed from someone's residence by the GV Fire Department. I'm told they still have it and will be sending it to the Desert Museum in Tucson.
I assume we'll eventually find out what it is.
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ricrabt
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by ricrabt »

Most on the crote site on facebook think aberrant atrox.
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by Jimi »

Seems like there's a bit of reaching for exotic explanations. The simplest and most likely is "slightly weird atrox". A bit aberrant.
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Steve Bledsoe
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by Steve Bledsoe »

I agree with the "slightly weird atrox" ID. I'm betting that's what it turns out to be.
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Jeremy Wright
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by Jeremy Wright »

Any chance there is some Mojave in this guy? Definitely weird.
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ricrabt
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by ricrabt »

Most on the crote page on facebook say dark atrox....
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Steve Bledsoe
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by Steve Bledsoe »

Update -
Latest from the folks at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is that they believe this is a dark atrox. They're holding the snake to get a molt to send in for DNA testing.
Will keep you posted with any new news.
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Porter
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by Porter »

ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake by California Reptile & Amphibian Appreciation, on Flickr



Could be a natural hybrid from a snake released in a county far from its range by someone who decided they no longer could keep it after taking it home. locals in the Sacramento before my time have always said there used to be Diamondback at Folsom Lake. That may hold some water on some level.

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Steve Bledsoe
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by Steve Bledsoe »

Here's a current pic of the subject

Image
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John Martin
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by John Martin »

Something about this snake just doesn't look right (to me) to be 100% atrox. I'm really looking forward to see what the DNA analysis says...
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Steve Bledsoe
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Re: Arizona Rattlesnake ID Help

Post by Steve Bledsoe »

I'm told that a scale count analysis is indicating atrox. The DNA analysis will indeed be interesting.
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