Check out this Pink Rattlesnake from Ben Avery

[hoghntr]

It is called a Wester Rattlesnake! not western diamondback just called western. this picture is off of a az rattlesnakes poster from game and fish. I saw 1 for first time last july while leaving pleasant. im a bit of a snake freak! always had them as pets and even had 4 rattlers when I was younger and before Venom E.R. was on t.v.

 

This particuilar species would be SUPER pink just after shedding and little less pink as he or she dulls up preparing to shed again.

 

 

[IA Born]

Definitely not Crotalus viridis. There are only two, maybe a third subspecies of the viridis group in AZ and they aren't found anywhere near Ben Avery or central AZ, for that matter.

[hoghntr]

Definitely not Crotalus viridis. There are only two, maybe a third subspecies of the viridis group in AZ and they aren't found anywhere near Ben Avery or central AZ, for that matter.

Im tellin ya I thiink they are here.. the 1 I saw at lake pleasant was super pink it was also july but of last year. im learning that crittters dont always mind their borders. if it is not a western than what pink rattler lives here that fits this description and these 2 sightings are only maybe 10 miles apart if that as crow flys and the arizona rattler poster above says 5 subspecies here in arizona

[IA Born]

 

Definitely not Crotalus viridis. There are only two, maybe a third subspecies of the viridis group in AZ and they aren't found anywhere near Ben Avery or central AZ, for that matter.

Im tellin ya I thiink they are here.. the 1 I saw at lake pleasant was super pink it was also july but of last year. im learning that crittters dont always mind their borders. if it is not a western than what pink rattler lives here that fits this description and these 2 sightings are only maybe 10 miles apart if that as crow flys and the arizona rattler poster above says 5 subspecies here in arizona

Both tiger rattlesnakes and speckled rattlesnakes have that pink color variation and both are found in the area of Ben Avery and Lake Pleasant. That blue Rattlesnakes of AZ poster is way outdated on taxonomy. The red one was printed to reflect the taxonomic changes. Many former subspecies of the western rattlesnake complex are now separate species. Many great herpetologists have chased and studied the rattlesnakes of AZ for decades because of their high diversity and high color variation; we know where which species are located pretty well. That poster doesn't show all color variations of speckled or tiger rattlesnakes. Even my Mojaves have wide color variation, which is why I hate the name "Mojave green"! Not all have the green coloration. Check out "A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Arizona" by Brennan and Holycross (2006). Its an AGFD publication and has the most up to date range and taxonomic descriptions of all herps in AZ. I've seen plenty of speckled rattlesnakes at Lake Pleasant. Of all the color variations of the former western (viridis) group, I've never seen or even heard of a pink variation and I've chased rattlesnakes all over this state and many others in the name of research over the last 15 years.. Would love to sit down and talk snakes with you over a beer sometime! I can also email you tons of literature on the break up (genetically) of the entire western rattlesnake complex if you are interested.

[PRDATR]

Now that sounds like a conversation worth listening to.

[Edge]

Only thing I understood was beer,

[IA Born]

Only thing I understood was beer,

 

That's pretty much what it takes to understand it and I've been involved in it for 15 years!

[Edge]

As long as the cold beer is flowing, I'll pretend to listen.

 

But seriously, I love snakes and used to rehome rattlers, what a marvel of evolution they are. But the rehomed snakes would find their way back and wind up meeting my hoe.

[hoghntr]

Sounds like the rattlers should quit sleeping around and it might be easier to identify them. seems like pretty soon they will all be same color

 

 

Only thing still for certain is if they have rattles watch out.. oh except babies which may not have enough rattle to actually rattle but will still venomate the heck outta ya.. oh and wouldnt it just be swell if they all would actually rattle before invenomating us?? gee creatures God hooked ya up with that fancy tail for a reason.

[hoghntr]

As long as the cold beer is flowing, I'll pretend to listen.

 

But seriously, I love snakes and used to rehome rattlers, what a marvel of evolution they are. But the rehomed snakes would find their way back and wind up meeting my hoe.

Meeting your WHAT??? Oh wait your talking about gardening tool.. ok.

[hoghntr]

 

 

Definitely not Crotalus viridis. There are only two, maybe a third subspecies of the viridis group in AZ and they aren't found anywhere near Ben Avery or central AZ, for that matter.

Im tellin ya I thiink they are here.. the 1 I saw at lake pleasant was super pink it was also july but of last year. im learning that crittters dont always mind their borders. if it is not a western than what pink rattler lives here that fits this description and these 2 sightings are only maybe 10 miles apart if that as crow flys and the arizona rattler poster above says 5 subspecies here in arizona

Both tiger rattlesnakes and speckled rattlesnakes have that pink color variation and both are found in the area of Ben Avery and Lake Pleasant. That blue Rattlesnakes of AZ poster is way outdated on taxonomy. The red one was printed to reflect the taxonomic changes. Many former subspecies of the western rattlesnake complex are now separate species. Many great herpetologists have chased and studied the rattlesnakes of AZ for decades because of their high diversity and high color variation; we know where which species are located pretty well. That poster doesn't show all color variations of speckled or tiger rattlesnakes. Even my Mojaves have wide color variation, which is why I hate the name "Mojave green"! Not all have the green coloration. Check out "A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Arizona" by Brennan and Holycross (2006). Its an AGFD publication and has the most up to date range and taxonomic descriptions of all herps in AZ. I've seen plenty of speckled rattlesnakes at Lake Pleasant. Of all the color variations of the former western (viridis) group, I've never seen or even heard of a pink variation and I've chased rattlesnakes all over this state and many others in the name of research over the last 15 years.. Would love to sit down and talk snakes with you over a beer sometime! I can also email you tons of literature on the break up (genetically) of the entire western rattlesnake complex if you are interested.

 

Rattlesnakes are absolutely amazing! back in the day 35yrs ago or so you just saw western diamonback, mojave (Green), And sidewinders.. heck I havent seen a sidewinder in forever now but I have seen pics of 5 different looking rattlesnakes in 1 weekend behind my house around hiking area. it is getting down right silly! I am jealous there was a day I dreamed of becoming herpetologist. I always had various species as pets then, well, marriage seemed to take care of that.

[Edge]

Hey Hoghntr...

Theres a rattlesnake species in the Baja that lost it's rattles thru evolution. Right on the coast in the Sea of Cortez; heck of a place to get marooned.

[IA Born]

Hey Hoghntr...

Theres a rattlesnake species in the Baja that lost it's rattles thru evolution. Right on the coast in the Sea of Cortez; heck of a place to get marooned.

Catalina Island rattlesnake: Crotalus catalinensis. Bucket list species for me!

[10Turkeys]

I don't think this particular snake was pink but here goes, I remember an article in the paper in the early 70's, it involved a man on a bike who was heavily tattooed and apparently heavily intoxicated, he was riding either to or from Canyon Lake and found a rattlesnake on the road, soon a crowd had gathered to see what the hoopla was about, at first our hero was going to simply shoot the snake with his handgun, but with the crowd around him and enough alcohol in him he decided to go mano to mano with the snake and handed his gun to someone in the crowd. Well after being bitten several times a Sheriffs deputy showed up and got an ambulance there, the hero ask the Sheriff to retrieve his handgun before getting into the ambulance, party that received the handgun apperantly drove off with it.

[Jcubed]

 

Hey Hoghntr...

Theres a rattlesnake species in the Baja that lost it's rattles thru evolution. Right on the coast in the Sea of Cortez; heck of a place to get marooned.

Catalina Island rattlesnake: Crotalus catalinensis. Bucket list species for me!

IA Born

 

I have heard a theory that rattlesnakes rattle less today, as the ones who have rattled to alert their presence are killed. Thus, the snakes that rattle to alert are being taken out of the gene pool leaving those that don't rattle to procreate leaving subsequent generations less apt to rattle at approaching danger. Is there any truth to this theory?

 

Thanks in advance for any insight!