Description—Although individuals of this species show a great deal of variation in color, from a chalky white to a dull red, they can be identified immediately by the alternate black and white rings of about equal width on the tail. There is a pattern of brown diamond shaped markings along the middle of the back, which stands out against the lighter body color. Each diamond has a narrow light border.
Size—Adults are generally from three and a half to four and a half feet long. Reliable reports indicate that this species grows to a length of over seven and a half feet, and six-foot specimens are not rare.
Young—Broods average 10 or 12 but occasionally contain 20 or more. The newborn diamondback is about a foot long and looks very much like the adult.
Distribution—Known throughout most of the state except the extreme eastern part, it may be expected in many more counties from which records of its occurrence have not yet been received. It is definitely known in these counties: Andrews, Aransas, Archer, Armstrong, Atascosa, Bandera, Bastrop, Baylor, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Borden, Bosque, Brazoria, Brazos, Brewster, Briscoe, Brooks, Brown, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Clay, Coke, Comal, Comanche, Concho, Coryell, Cottle, Crockett, Crosby, Culberson, Dallam, Dallas, Dawson, Deaf Smith, DeWitt, Dickens, Dimmit, Donley, Duval, Eastland, Ector, Edwards, El Paso, Erath, Fisher, Foard, Frio, Galveston, Garza, Gillespie, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hardeman, Harris, Hartley, Hays, Hidalgo, Howard, Hudspeth, Hutchinson, Irion, Jack, Jackson, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kendall, Kenedy, Kent, Kerr, Kimble, King, Kinney, Kleberg, Knox, Lampasas, La Salle, Lavaca, Limestone, Live Oak, Llano, Lubbock, Lynn, Martin, Mason, Matagorda, Maverick, McCulloch, McLennan, McMullen, Medina, Midland, Milam, Mills, Mitchell, Moore, Motley, Nolan, Nueces, Oldham, Palo Pinto, Pecos, Porter, Presidio, Randall, Real, Reeves, Refugio, San Patricio, Scurry, Shackelford, Somervell, Starr, Sterling, Stevens, Tarrant, Taylor, Terrell, Throckmorton, Tom Green, Travis, Uvalde, Val Verde, Victoria, Ward, Webb, Wells, Wilbarger, Willacy, Williamson, Wilson, Winkler, Wise, Wichita, Young, Zapata, and Zavala.
This is the most dangerous and, at the same time, the most common poisonous snake in the state. Therefore, it is one which all Texas outdoorsmen should be able to recognize on sight. A summary of snake bite cases in the United States over a 10-year period shows that more people died from bites of this species than from bites of any other North American snake. There are several reasons why this snake is responsible for so many bites and such a high number of deaths. Chief among these is its large size. It ranks as one of the two largest poisonous snakes in the country, being second only to the eight-foot eastern diamondback rattlesnake of the southeastern states. In direct proportion to its size, it has long fangs and poison glands which hold a great amount of venom. These factors insure a long strike and deep fang penetration. In addition, it has an unusually furious disposition and, if threatened with danger or sufficiently annoyed, will vigorously defend itself instead of seeking immediate escape.
Although strictly a land snake, the diamondback may sometimes be found crossing streams or ponds and, occasionally, individuals will venture out into lakes and bays.
TIMBER RATTLESNAKE
Crotalus horridus horridus
Description—This snake is much like the larger canebrake rattler but lacks the dark stripe from the eye to the back of the mouth, and generally is without the reddish-brown stripe down the middle of its back. Dark brown chevron shaped crossbands contrast with the general body color of yellowish tan. In some specimens black stippling occurs between the markings. Both black and light color phases of this snake are found in some parts of its range. It is unknown whether the dark specimens occur in Texas. The tail is marked with three or four dark bands on the lighter specimens but is altogether black on the darker ones.