Crotalus lepidus klauberi

This snake is probably the one subspecies that I have spent the bulk of the last decade searching for. Because they are isolated to various isolated mountain ranges in the Chihuahuan desert, I made it a goal to see them in as many localities as possible and to try to understand them a bit better.

My first klauberi. I was hiking a wash in the Huachucas on my first trip to Arizona and got buzzed by this guy. August 2003.
My first New Mexico klaub. It was so exciting to be hiking in a canyon and hear that buzz. Socorro County, NM. May 2006.
This large gravid female was found under a large rock. I initially stepped on the rock to look at a whipsnake shed protruding from under it. Then I heard this snake buzz. Socorro County, NM. June 2007.
My favorite klaub seen in the field. I think he speaks for himself. Hidalgo County, NM. July 2009.
Site fidelity can be pretty strong with some snakes. We saw this male in the same rock slide area three out of four years. Cochise County, AZ. August 2009.
The biggest klaub I have ever seen in person. And he looked like he ate a squirrel. Hidalgo County, NM. July 2010.
It was hot and I was moving pretty quickly back to the truck after a long day in the field when this pretty female buzzed me and scared the daylights out of me. Hidalgo County, NM. July 2010.
Individuals from this locality get big and girthy. Catron County, NM. August 2010.
This young female with a large meal was out basking at first sunlight with temps near 50°F. Catron County, NM. August 2010.
Klauberi are significantly smaller at this locality This is an adult female next to an elk skull. Catron County, NM. July 2012.
Dark or military green is a fairly common color for male klauberi in the Gila. Grant County, NM. September 2012.
As you get closer to the Mexican border, animals begin to look more like ones from the other side of the border. Hidalgo County, NM. July 2013.
A female and her offspring seen basking one morning. Hidalgo County, NM. July 2013.
Some animals are bold green with clean, jet black banding. Hidalgo County, NM. July 2013.
This snake is without a doubt one of the nicest klauberi I have seen in the wild. El Paso County, TX. August 2013.
A pair found together showing sexual dimorphism in klauberi with males being more green and females being more brown or pink. Hidalgo County, NM. September 2013.
I found this guy just before dark and snapped a few shots. Hidalgo County, NM. September 2013.
My favorite locality of klaubs in the United States. I love the mottling. Doña Ana County, NM. August 2015.
This klaub filled in a distribution gap for me. It was neat to see what animals from this locality looked like. Grant County, NM. April 2017.
Without a doubt the nicest klauberi I have seen in Arizona. Wish I got better photos of it. Cochise County, AZ. August 2018.
A young male from my favorite locality of klaubs. Doña Ana County, NM. July 2019.