Reptile & Amphibian Forums

He's in Central California, this snake was in his driveway and he relocated it... what kind of rattlesnake is it?

Looks like a Southern Pacific, C. helleri to me. ~~Greg~~

Definitely some sub-species of Western Rattlesnake (c viridus). I'll go for Northern Pacific Rattler (c. viridis oreganus). The differences between Northern Pacific and Southern Pacific can be subtle, especially in central CA which is an intergrade zone between the two. I believe the Southern Pacific Rattler's terminal black tail band is usually almost twice as wide as the others, this one seems to have a band that is equal to the others. The crisp white facial markings also point to oreganus, but it could be an intergrade. What part of central CA? might help

I think he's in the SF bay area.

Then it is a Northern Pacific.
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3.0 WC; 0.1 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 CB L. pyromelana pyromelana
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

More (accurate this time) locality info:

He lives 20 miles East of Sacramento in the Sierra foothills at 1400' elevation.

I live 40 miles east of Sacramento in the Sierras myself, if he found it here it's a Northern Pacific.

Not viridis anymore
crotalus.viridis.oreganus
crotalus.viridis.helleri
couple others
reclassified
crotalus.oreganus.oreganus
crotalus.oreganus.helleri

I'm still using "viridis". I'll catch up eventually! Anyhoo it's a Northern Pacific (c.oreganus oreganus).