Late in season rattler

Elwood · Post by **Elwood** » Thu Dec 12, 2019 6:12 am

I was surprised to see this little Crotalus on the Wildwood Canyon trail in the Verdugos yesterday. If you look closely you'll see the tail of some hapless lizard sticking out of its mouth. Lamborghini wasn't mine by-the-way; wrong color.

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Thu Dec 12, 2019 6:23 pm

Great shot. I didn't know there were western diamondbacks in the San Gabriels.

Post by **JeffH** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 8:58 am

I'm also surprised you saw one this late. I've been walking around thinking I don't have to worry about them at this time of the year.

Post by **dima** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 12:04 pm

Cool shot! Was the lizard struggling still?

Elwood · Post by **Elwood** » Sat Dec 14, 2019 10:49 am

I think the lizard was already still. Oddly I didn't realize what I'd captured until reviewing the pictures later.

Mike P · Post by **Mike P** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 6:42 pm

CrazyHermit wrote: Great shot. I didn't know there were western diamondbacks in the San Gabriels.

Well... that little guy or gal is not a Western Diamond-backed but a Southern Pacific rattlesnake, a subspecies of the Western Rattlesnake. (Depending upon your taxonomic view, the Southern Pacific may be its own species.)

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 5:21 am

I've never seen a Southern Pacific Rattlesnake with that straight banding around the tail section.

Elwood · Post by **Elwood** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 6:05 am

This snake is a juvenile. I don't think that its pattern has had a chance to develop / distribute along the length of its body yet.

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 11:05 am

Most of the Southern Pacifics I see are almost completely black, but I have seen tan ones like that.
The latest one I saw was dusty black with no pattern whatsoever.

Post by **tekewin** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:29 pm

Nice shot! You can tell it's a baby from the undeveloped rattle. Bonus that it is eating.

I really thought they would be hiding in holes now that's cooled off. I haven't seen a snake since July.

Post by **dima** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 5:53 pm

Is it extra-weird for a rattler out this late to be a juvenile? Was it born late?

Elwood · Post by **Elwood** » Fri Dec 20, 2019 7:15 am

Alas, the little rattler slithered away before I could ask it when it was born. I also misspelled 'Crotalus' (as in Crotalus Oreganus) in the original post and the editing window has elapsed.

Post by **Sean** » Fri Dec 20, 2019 12:03 pm

Elwood wrote: I also misspelled 'Crotalus' (as in Crotalus Oreganus) in the original post and the editing window has elapsed.

I fixed it. Also, I added a link to the Lamborghini thread.

Jaya · Post by **Jaya** » Mon Dec 23, 2019 8:57 am

Very interesting discussion of taxonomy. Thank you, gentlemen.