-Protected species in Arizona
-One of the rarest snakes in the state
-The desert massasauga is a smaller rattlesnake, usually around 18 inches long
-Sandy-colored (usually tan or gray), with large, brown blotches lined close together down the middle of its back ... dark brown stripe along its cheek on both sides of the face, from the eye to the back corner of the mouth ... there is also a very narrow white line just below this dark cheek stripe
-The desert massasauga’s rattle is smaller and sounds more like crickets rather than the usually strong warning sound of a larger rattlesnake