Reptiles & amphibians · La Saladita, Guerrero

Basilisk Rattlesnake

Crotalus basiliscus

Spanish: Cascabel del Pacífico

Basilisk Rattlesnake (Crotalus basiliscus)
Photographed by karl-hawkman on iNaturalist · CC-BY-NC · taken in La Huerta, Jal., México, not near La Saladita

Crotalus basiliscus is a venomous pit viper species found in western Mexico. The specific name is derived from the Greek word for king, basiliskos, and alludes to this snake's large size and potent venom. No subspecies is currently recognized.

TaxonomyReptilia › Squamata › Viperidae
Local recordsNot recorded by research-grade iNaturalist observations within about 50 km; listed from the site's curated guide
Global records824 on iNaturalist

Interactive card with more photos, sounds and similar species Reptiles & amphibians guide iNaturalist Wikipedia

Cite as: “Basilisk Rattlesnake (Crotalus basiliscus) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/crotalus-basiliscus/, updated 2026-09-26. Observation counts and months come from iNaturalist research-grade records within about 50 km of 17.8375°N, 101.7606°W (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones); summary text from Wikipedia where present.