Also called the "coon-tail rattler" due to the black and white tail rings of equal width, the western diamondback typifies the defiant spirit and courageous nature which people associate with the American West.

This rattlesnake is generally considered to be the largest species, exceeded only by its close relative, the eastern diamondback of the southeastern United States. At one time, western diamondbacks of seven feet in length were not uncommon. However, many years of relentless persecution by man, as well as changes in their habitat and food web, have reduced the maximum size to around five feet, except in the more remote areas of their range. In spite of this pressure, diamondbacks continue to occur in considerable numbers in many places.

Western diamondback rattlesnake - Crotalus atrox  Often depicted as a classic symbol of the American West, this common rattlesnake probably bites more people than any other species in North America.  Most bites could be avoided by common sense and simple respect for the snake.