Fieldherper.com » black-tailed

Beautiful Blacktail

Bryan — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:08:06 +0000

One of the ways that I’ve decided to take my hobby is to start speaking at events as a local snake ‘expert’. I have a pretty decent collection of native rattlesnakes at home, but it was finally time to go try and pick up a great specimen of my absolute favorite of Arizona rattlesnakes, the Northern Blacktailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus molossus. When it comes to blacktails, there aren’t any more beautiful than as can be found in the Sky Islands region of South East Arizona. I set aside 3 days to head to my favorite range and find my prize.

Success came on the first night, finding two absolutely knockout animals. After careful comparison, I decided that the larger, and higher contrast, of the two would come home with me. Before leaving the area, however, I took this photo of him in the rocks near where he was found, stretched out in the cold rain.

Crotalus molossus

For comparison, here is another blacktail, found in the McDowell mountains earlier in the year. You can clearly see why I looked to find mine in the range that I chose.

Sleepy lady

Baby Blacktail

Bryan — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 03:26:57 +0000

Here’s the smallest Blacktailed Rattlesnake I’ve ever seen … I see plenty of these guys, so I’m not quite sure why I never see babies. Cute little guy.

C-m-molossus-082910

My Favorite Species of Rattlesnake

Bryan — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:06:45 +0000

Here’s a really pretty desert phase Blacktailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus, from a seldom herped area in Yavapai county. Every molossus I’ve seen in this area is a knock out, and this one is no exception. I was able to get in close for a photo and leave again without it waking up.

Blacktail

Here’s where he was sitting when found:

Crotalus molossus molossus

Baby Blacktail in the New River Mountains

Bryan — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:41:32 +0000

I found this young Black-Tailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus, in the New River mountains, in a pretty amazing spot that also is home to a good many Crotalus cerberus. This is also the youngest molossus I’ve ever seen in the wild. For only having two rattle segments, it was surprisingly large.

Crotalus molossus

Blacktail

… and you’ll have to endure my playing with HDR and the RAW format.

HDR version

A Black & Gold Mountain-Phase Blacktail

Bryan — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:06:28 +0000

Here’s a beautiful blacktailed rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus, we found near the Mexican border with Arizona. The lichen-covered rocks made a really cool background.

molossus

Blacktail

Crotalus molossus

blacktail

molossus

A Typical Desert-Phase Blacktailed Rattlesnake from Arizona’s Superstition Mountains

Bryan — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:50:58 +0000

This subadult Black-Tailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus, is the typical low-contrast brown seen in the Sonoran desertscrub areas of most of Arizona. In many areas this can take a green, orange, or even pinkish tint, but this one is pretty straight brown. Nonetheless, their pattern is one of the best looking, in my opinion, of the large-bodied rattlesnakes in Arizona, and their calm attitude is always welcome, except for being a bit difficult to photograph as they continually try to slide away without a fight.

blacktail rattlesnake in Arizona

Black-Tailed Rattlesnake from the Chiricuahua Mountains

Bryan — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 06:13:51 +0000

I found this Black-Tailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus, while hiking along a streambed with my sister in August of 2009. It was the first she had seen, unless you count the unfortunate roadkill we found near Douglass the night before. I love this species; it completely made our afternoon to find this guy.

Crotalus molossus

Blacktail Rattlesnake

Crotalus molossus

Rattlesnake