Mojave Rattlesnake vs. Western Rattlesnake
Both live on the western edge of the Mojave Desert and in the Tehachapi Mountains; their records overlap there. A: Two large scales in the Mojave Rattlesnake; three to six or more small, irregular scales in the Western Rattlesnake. B: Sharp black and white rings, the white rings clearly wider than the black in the Mojave Rattlesnake; dull grey-brown and off-white rings, the dark rings as wide as the pale ones or wider in the Western Rattlesnake. C: Slopes back and passes above the corner of the mouth in the Mojave Rattlesnake; runs down into the corner of the mouth in the Western Rattlesnake. D: Crisp diamonds edged with a continuous ring of pale scales in the Mojave Rattlesnake; blockier, hexagonal or rounded blotches with less distinct pale edges in the Western Rattlesnake. Both are venomous; the Mojave is more dangerous. Leave both alone.
Open this comparison in Wildsight
Photographs via iNaturalist under Creative Commons licences; the photographers are credited on the sheet.
More comparisons
- Mojave Rattlesnake vs. Sidewinder
- Mojave Rattlesnake vs. Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
- Mojave Rattlesnake vs. Red Diamond Rattlesnake
- Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake vs. Mojave Rattlesnake
- Panamint Rattlesnake vs. Mojave Rattlesnake
- Western Black-tailed Rattlesnake vs. Mojave Rattlesnake
- Tiger Rattlesnake vs. Mojave Rattlesnake
- Arizona Black Rattlesnake vs. Mojave Rattlesnake
- Mojave Rattlesnake vs. Sonoran Lyre Snake
- Rock Rattlesnake vs. Mojave Rattlesnake
- Prairie Rattlesnake vs. Mojave Rattlesnake
- Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake vs. Mojave Rattlesnake
- Twin-spotted Rattlesnake vs. Mojave Rattlesnake
- Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake vs. Mojave Rattlesnake
- Western Rattlesnake vs. Prairie Rattlesnake
- Desert Nightsnake vs. Western Rattlesnake
- Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake vs. Western Rattlesnake
- Red Diamond Rattlesnake vs. Western Rattlesnake
- Sidewinder vs. Western Rattlesnake
- Coast Night Snake vs. Western Rattlesnake
- Western Rattlesnake vs. Western Glossy Snake
- Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake vs. Western Rattlesnake
- Panamint Rattlesnake vs. Western Rattlesnake
- California Lyresnake vs. Western Rattlesnake
Wildsight identifies the reptiles and amphibians of the United States. Every comparison