Reptiles
Mojave Rattlesnake
Crotalus scutulatus · also called Mojave green
Two Mojave rattlesnakes from different corners of the desert can carry venom that behaves in genuinely different ways, one closer to a typical rattlesnake bite, the other carrying a potent neurotoxic component that changes the entire medical picture. Which kind you might encounter depends heavily on exactly where in its range that particular snake happens to live.
Overview
The Mojave rattlesnake, Crotalus scutulatus, is a pale, greenish-tan pit viper native to arid desert habitat across the southwestern United States and Mexico. Its unusually variable venom, sometimes carrying a rare neurotoxic component, sets it apart medically from most other rattlesnake species.
A venom that depends on geography
Unlike species with consistent venom composition across their range, the Mojave rattlesnake’s bite can differ meaningfully depending on which population delivered it, a genuinely unusual level of regional venom variation within a single rattlesnake species.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and stable across suitable desert habitat throughout the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Mojave Rattlesnake: common questions
Why is the Mojave rattlesnake's venom considered unusual?
The Mojave rattlesnake is notable for carrying a potent neurotoxic venom component, known as Mojave toxin, in addition to the tissue-destroying compounds typical of most rattlesnake venoms, an unusual combination among rattlesnakes generally that can make bites from populations carrying high levels of this toxin considerably more medically serious than a typical rattlesnake bite.
Does every Mojave rattlesnake have the same venom?
No, the specific composition and potency of Mojave rattlesnake venom can vary significantly between different populations across its range, with some populations carrying much higher levels of the neurotoxic Mojave toxin component than others, making venom effects genuinely unpredictable depending on the specific population involved.
How can you tell a Mojave rattlesnake from a western diamondback?
A Mojave rattlesnake can be difficult to distinguish from the closely related western diamondback rattlesnake at a glance, though differences in tail banding pattern and head scale arrangement help herpetologists and experienced observers reliably tell the two similar-looking species apart.
Where does the Mojave rattlesnake live?
The Mojave rattlesnake is native to arid desert and scrubland habitat across parts of the southwestern United States and northern and central Mexico, generally favouring open desert terrain suited to its ambush hunting strategy.