Description: 23-52 inches. Pattern and color vary greatly; generally has a sandy, speckled appearance. Back marked with muted crossbands or hexagonal to diamond shaped blotches formed by small clusters of dots. Large scale above eye pitted, creased, or rough-edged; or rostral scale separated from preanals by row of tiny scales. Scales keeled, in 23-27 rows.

Habitat: Prefers rugged, rocky terrain, rock outcrops, deep canyons, talus, chaparral amid rock piles and boulders, rocky foothills; sea level to 8000 feet.

Range: Extreme sw. Utah, s. Nevada and s. California south into nw. Sonora and throughout Baja California.

Active during the day in spring and fall, at night in summer. Eats ground squirrels, kangaroo rats, white-footed mice, birds, and lizards.

Move on to The Three Nasties

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