Arizona Black Rattlesnake
Crotalus cerberus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyViperidae (Vipers)
- GenusCrotalus (Rattlesnakes)
- SpeciesCrotalus cerberus (Arizona Black Rattlesnake)
About the Arizona Black Rattlesnake
Crotalus cerberus is a venomous pit viper species found in the southwestern United States. It is known as the Arizona black rattlesnake, black rattlesnake, and several other common names. According to Wright and Wright (1957), adults grow to an average length of 78–109 cm (31–43 in). Klauber (1997) reports the maximum length to be less at 1,032 mm (40+5⁄8 in), with the smallest gravid female measuring 701 mm (27+5⁄8 in). Hubbs and O'Connor (2012) list an adult size range of 812–1,219 mm (32.0–48.0 in).
The ground color varies among dark grayish, brownish black, reddish brown, or blackish. This is overlaid with a dorsal pattern of blotches that are rectangular anteriorly, become subhexagonal posteriorly, and finally form crossbands just before the tail.
However, specimens also may be a uniform dark color without any clear dorsal pattern, or the dorsal blotches may be even darker and bordered with white, cream, or yellow transverse rows of scales, or the color pattern may be quite pale with a significant amount of yellow mixed in. A postocular stripe is evident in lightly colored specimens, but not so much in darker ones.
Arizona black rattlesnakes... Wikipedia →
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Arizona Black Rattlesnake in Saguaro National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Arizona Black Rattlesnake sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 32 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Arizona Black Rattlesnake in Saguaro National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Arizona Black Rattlesnake in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.