If threatened they will attempt to use their rattle to scare away predators so that they can save up their venom. These snakes have also been reported on a number of islands in the Gulf of California, including San Pedro Mártir, Santa María (Sinaloa), Tíburon and the Turner Islands. Frost, D.R., Hammerson, G.A. Despite this, the number of segments in the rattle is not a reliable indicator of the snake’s age, as sections can drop off over time. Western diamondback rattlesnakes live in different habitats that range from flat coastal plains to steep rocky canyons and hillsides; they are associated with many different vegetation types, including desert, sandy creosote areas, mesquite grassland, desert scrub, and pine-oak forests. Join Our Mailing List to Get Daily Animal Profiles & Animal News Delivered to Your Mailbox. It is the eastern, rather than the western, diamondback that is responsible for the highest number of fatalities per year. This involves the combatants coiling their bodies around one another with their heads held high off the ground. The diamond markings of the western diamondback rattlesnake are paler than those of the eastern diamondback species. They are bordered by sandy-yellow lines. They weigh between 1.8 and 2.7kg (4-6lbs). 165 days after a successful mating the young are born. Running from the lower edge of the eye across the head is the postocular stripe which is coloured smoky or dark gray-brown. Western diamondback rattlesnakes are carnivores. A female will remain still while the male makes the approach and mating takes place. Because antivenom is readily available, bites are rarely lethal. If left untreated, the bite is potentially fatal to humans. These may begin as rectangles that slowly become rectangular and then morph into the namesake diamonds. When biting prey it is not uncommon for their fangs to become stuck and come out. & Santos-Barrera, G. 2007. Other common names of these snakes include desert diamond-back, desert diamond rattlesnake, fierce rattlesnake, spitting rattlesnake, buzz tail, Texan rattlesnake, Texas diamond-back, and Texas rattler. When threatened, a rattlesnake will rapidly vibrate its tail. The young then ‘hatch’ from the eggs prior to being born. Western diamondback rattlesnakes are carnivores. A pair of diagonal white lines can often be seen on each cheek. The western diamondback rattlesnake reaches sexual maturity at 3 years of age. The snake’s body is brown-gray in color. Occasionally, the snake loses its teeth when it strikes.