[3] In western Mexico in the north, it is found in the Baja California Peninsula from around Río San Telmo on the west coast and from opposite Isla Angel de la Guarda on the gulf coast, south to Cabo San Lucas.

[2] It prefers desert, but in the northwestern part of its range, it can be found in chaparral country, while in the cape region (Sierra de San Lázaro), it occurs in pine-oak and tropical deciduous forest.

It can be found in rocky areas with arid thorn scrub and cacti, but sometimes also in sand dunes.

This is in contrast to many other rattlesnake species that prey on lizards almost exclusively as juveniles, switching to mammals as adults.

Grismer (2002) reported finding neonates in the wild between late July and mid October, which would indicate the species mates in the spring and gives birth in the summer or early fall.