Organisms Identification Manual: For The Western United States - Peyton Edwards - 36

Totem Pole Cactus: Pachycereus schottii

monstrosus
Range: The Totem Pole Cactus is native to Baja California.

Typical Size: Size varies.

Distinguishing/Key Features: The Totem Pole Cactus is a

green nearly spineless cactus with many lumps all the way up its
trunk.

Habitat: The Totem Pole Cactus can be found on rocky hillsides,

desert areas, and alluvial plains.

Interesting Observations: The Totem Pole cactus snakes

upwards with many bumps and lumps on its trunk.

Interesting Facts: The Totem Pole Cactus is nearly spineless.

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Twisted Barrel: Ferocactus herrerae

Range: Sonoran desert.

Typical Size: 3 feet.

Distinguishing/Key Features: The cactus appears to

twist around its base.

Habitat: Deserts.

Interesting Observations: The Twisted Barrel was one

of the few cacti that had fruit at the time.
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Arizona Black Rattlesnake: Crotalus cerberus

Range: The Arizona Black Rattlesnake can be found in elevations between 4000 to over 9000
feet in Arizona and western New Mexico.

Typical Size: Adult Arizona Black

Rattlesnakes can grow up to 42 inches in
length.

Distinguishing/Key Features: Young

Arizona Black Rattlesnakes are a light
gray color with brown blotches and facial
markings. The coloration of the Arizona
Black Rattlesnake darkens with age
leaving some adults a solid black color.
Some Arizona Black Rattlesnakes also
have thin white, yellow, or orange
crossbar markings down their backs. The
Arizona Black Rattlesnake has a slender
body with a broad triangular head.

Habitat: Arizona Black Rattlesnakes are found in high elevation regions that can include rocky
slopes and woodlands. They can also be found near water in those areas.

Interesting Observations: The Arizona Black Rattlesnake that I observed was stationed in
the branches of a small staged tree. Arizona Black Rattlesnakes and other rattlesnake species are
capable of climbing up into bushes or small trees.

Interesting Facts: A new section is added to the Arizona Black Rattlesnake’s rattle every
time it sheds its skin.
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Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake: Crotalus willardi

willardi
Range: The Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake is found between elevations of 4000 and 9000
feet within the Huachuca, Santa Rita, Canelo, Patagonia, and Whetstone mountain ranges of
Arizona.

Typical Size: Adult Arizona Ridge-nosed

Rattlesnakes only grow to be an average of 26
inches.

Distinguishing/Key Features: The Arizona

Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake can be easily identified
by the distinctive white stripes on its face and the
prominent ridge along each side of its nose. The coloration of the Arizona Ridge-nosed
Rattlesnake differs between reddish-brown, orange-brown, or rust. The back of the Arizona
Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake is marked with a light crossbar pattern. The Arizona Ridge-nosed
Rattlesnake has a slender body and a broad triangular head. Their underbellies are a cream or
white color. Young Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnakes have dark-grey, black, or yellow tails.

Habitat: Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnakes can be found in areas with plenty of canopy cover
and leaf litter within Madrean Evergreen Woodlands or Petran Montane Conifer Forests.

Interesting Observations: The facial marking of the Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake was
more defined than the markings that went down its back.

Interesting Facts: The Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake is the state reptile of Arizona. The
Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake is considered to be one of the most primitive rattlesnakes that
can be found in the United States today.
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Black Tailed Rattlesnake: Crotalus molossus

Range: The Black Tailed Rattlesnake is found
across the southwestern United States and
Mexico. This includes almost all of Arizona
except for the Black Tailed Rattlesnake is not
located in the northeastern plateau region.

Typical Size: Black Tailed Rattlesnakes are a

large species of rattlesnake that can measure
up to 48 inches on average.

Distinguishing/Key Features: The Black Tailed Rattlesnake is easily identifiable by its solid
black tail. The body of the Black Tailed Rattlesnake is slender and often colored brown,
yellow-brown, gray, or golden yellow. The back usually has hexagonal blotches that range in
shades of brown and black. The head of the Black Tailed Rattlesnake is broad and triangular with
a black or dark brown blotch on the top of the snout.

Habitat: The Black Tailed Rattlesnake seems to prefer woodlands and above flats in hill or
mountain terrain.

Interesting Observations: The Black Tailed Rattlesnake featured at the Sonoran was small
and the coloring was lighter. From observation it appeared to be a younger snake.

Interesting Facts: The Black Tailed Rattlesnake can have up to 16 young at once.