Snakes of Arizona
Arizona Game and Fish: “Arizona is home to 13 different species of rattlesnakes, more than any other U.S. state.” Add the Sonoran coralsnake and that is the list of animals in Arizona that can seriously hurt you.
Venomous Snakes of Arizona
Twelve Crotalus, one Sistrurus, and one coral snake. Arizona Game and Fish does not publish sizes or in-state ranges for most of them, and this page says so rather than filling the gaps.
Rattlesnakes — Crotalus
Twelve species. Sizes below are University of Arizona Cooperative Extension’s where it publishes them; AZGFD publishes in-state ranges for almost none of these.
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
- Size
- To 66 in
- Range
- Not stated by AZGFD
Named by AZGFD as one of the most commonly encountered.
Species guideMohave Rattlesnake
AZGFD also spells it Mojave
Crotalus scutulatus
- Size
- To 50 in
- Range
- Not stated by AZGFD
Sidewinder
Crotalus cerastes
- Size
- Not stated
- Range
- Not stated by AZGFD
Named by AZGFD as one of the most commonly encountered.
Species guideTiger Rattlesnake
Crotalus tigris
- Size
- Not stated
- Range
- Over 70% of the global breeding range is in Arizona
Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake
Crotalus willardi
- Size
- Up to 28 in
- Range
- Not stated by AZGFD
AZGFD tracks two subspecies separately — Arizona and New Mexico ridge-nosed.
Species guideRattlesnakes — Sistrurus
One species, in a different genus from the twelve above.
Coral snakes
Family Elapidae. Small, and far less dangerous to people than any of the rattlesnakes above.
Sonoran Coralsnake
Also Western or Arizona coral snake
Micruroides euryxanthus
- Size
- 13–21 in
- Range
- Central and southern Arizona
Arizona Poison Center: “There has never been a death attributed to the Arizona species.”
Species guideAZGFD, the Banner poison center and UA Extension all say 13 rattlesnake species. The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center says “15 different types” — types, not species, which may be counting subspecies. The broader claim that Arizona has the most venomous snake species of any state is repeated widely but we could not verify it against any Arizona agency; what AZGFD actually claims is the rattlesnake record.
What to Do About a Bite
Every step below is one that CDC NIOSH, the Arizona agencies and poison control all agree on. Snakebite is a medical emergency; nothing here replaces calling for help.
Do
- Call 911, or Poison Help on 1-800-222-1222.
- Get away from the snake. Do not try to catch or kill it.
- Stay calm and still, and take off rings, watches and anything tight.
- Wash the bite and cover it with a clean dry dressing.
- Get to hospital. Call ahead so antivenom is ready.
Do not
- Do not cut the wound or try to suck out venom.
- Do not apply a tourniquet or anything that restricts blood flow.
- Do not pack it in ice or immerse it in cold water.
- Do not use electric shock, alcohol, or painkillers you were not told to take.
On limb position: agencies disagree. Some say keep the bite below heart level, CDC NIOSH says a neutral position. We are not going to arbitrate medical guidance, so the step is left out here — follow whatever the emergency operator tells you.
~125
envenomations managed a year by the Banner poison center
up to 25%
of rattlesnake bites are dry — no venom (Banner)
over half
of rattlesnake bites are provoked by the person bitten (AZGFD)
Banner’s ~125 is the caseload of one poison centre, not a statewide incidence figure. No Arizona agency publishes a statewide bite or death count.
What to wear: AZGFD publishes no clothing guidance. Banner Health: “wear boots and long pants when walking in desert or brush areas.” CDC NIOSH says the same, and adds leather gloves for brush and debris.
Full detail on our snake bite first aid page, and snake gaiters for Arizona for the lower-leg cover those agencies keep recommending.
Where this came from
Species names, sizes, ranges and bite figures are taken from the agencies below. Where they disagree with each other, this page says so rather than picking the number that reads best.