Desert Massasauga

Description:

Massasauga can be confused with diamondback rattlesnakes, but massasauga rattlesnakes have two somewhat wavy dark brown stripes that extend backward from near the eyes to the neck, and also diamondbacks have distinctly black and white striped tails. Massasauga tend to be smaller, although I've seen some pretty small daimondbacks in this area. All rattlesnakes are venomous and should only be handled by somebody who knows what they're doing.

Habitat:

This snake was found on a part of the Aransas NWR. This part of TX is characterized by salt marsh and prairie. This snake was crossing a gravel road between two grassland units that are managed by the NWR to promote healthy coastal prairie.

Notes:

A really good field guide for TX snakes is the one by James Dixon and John Werler, published in the Texas Natural History Guides series. It's got a lot of great info and its one of the best state guides I've seen.