Pacific Rattlesnake

(Crotalus viridis)

This is the only dangerously venomous snake in coastal Los Angeles County. Ranging in color from pale gray to dark brown and black, it has somewhat diamond-shaped blotches down the back, each outlined in lighter scales. It is easily identified by the presence of rattles on a blunt tail, and by the broad head with a narrow neck, creating a trianglular shape.