Panamint rattlesnake (Crotalus stephensi)
The Panamint rattlesnake is a venomous pit viper in the family Viperidae. GBIF holds 286 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 2 states, most of all California (178) and Nevada (108). Its observation records peak in May.
Crotalus stephensi, also known as the Panamint Rattlesnake, is a venomous pitviper species found in central and southern Nevada and adjacent California. Other common names include Owens Valley rattlesnake and tiger rattlesnake (not to be confused with C. tigris).
From Wikipedia: Crotalus stephensi, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the Panamint rattlesnake poisonous or venomous?
Yes. The Panamint rattlesnake is a pit viper (family Viperidae), like every rattlesnake, copperhead and cottonmouth in the U.S. Its bite needs emergency care: call 911 and keep the bitten limb still. Antivenom is given in hospital.
Snakes often mistaken for it
Species commonly confused with rattlesnakes and recorded in the same states: gopher snake (recorded in all 2 of its states).
Which states have the Panamint rattlesnake?
The Panamint rattlesnake's U.S. record is concentrated: California alone holds 62% of licensed records. It is listed in 2 states in all; the next are Nevada (108).
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 178 | 0.2% | 33rd of 46 |
| 2 | Nevada | 108 | 2.7% | 12th of 27 |
When is the Panamint rattlesnake seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the Panamint rattlesnake run mostly April through August, peaking in May with 43% of them. Almost none are from December to February.
Where the Panamint rattlesnake is recorded in each state
California
California holds 178 licensed records, the 33rd most recorded of 46 snakes listed there. Its observation records in California run mostly April through August, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Inyo County, Mono County and San Bernardino County.
Nevada
Nevada holds 108 licensed records, the 12th most recorded of 27 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Nevada come from Clark County, Nye County and Esmeralda County. Next come Lincoln County (4) and Mineral County (3).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inyo County | California | 143 | 50.0% |
| 2 | Clark County | Nevada | 69 | 24.1% |
| 3 | Nye County | Nevada | 27 | 9.4% |
| 4 | Mono County | California | 20 | 7.0% |
| 5 | San Bernardino County | California | 15 | 5.2% |
| 6 | Esmeralda County | Nevada | 5 | 1.7% |
| 7 | Lincoln County | Nevada | 4 | 1.4% |
| 8 | Mineral County | Nevada | 3 | 1.0% |
How recent are the Panamint rattlesnake records?
The Panamint rattlesnake record leans on older material: only 23% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1966. The oldest dated record is from 1891; the busiest year was 1942, with 45 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 9 | 3.2% |
| 1900s | 1 | 0.4% |
| 1910s | 2 | 0.7% |
| 1920s | 2 | 0.7% |
| 1930s | 20 | 7.1% |
| 1940s | 49 | 17.4% |
| 1950s | 17 | 6.0% |
| 1960s | 64 | 22.7% |
| 1970s | 11 | 3.9% |
| 1980s | 3 | 1.1% |
| 1990s | 14 | 5.0% |
| 2000s | 4 | 1.4% |
| 2010s | 44 | 15.6% |
| 2020s | 42 | 14.9% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 8 counties where the Panamint rattlesnake is most recorded, 8 are also top counties for each of the first four snakes in the table below; no other snake shares more.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| California kingsnake | 8 |
| Gopher snake | 8 |
| Long-nosed snake | 8 |
| Western patch-nosed snake | 8 |
| Coachwhip | 7 |
| Desert nightsnake | 7 |
| Sidewinder venomous | 7 |
| Striped whipsnake | 7 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other species of the genus Crotalus with profiles here: Western rattlesnake, Western diamondback rattlesnake, Prairie rattlesnake, Sidewinder, Timber rattlesnake, Mohave rattlesnake, Red diamond rattlesnake and Black-tailed rattlesnake.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.