The New Mexico Ridge-nosed rattlesnake is a small, montane, rattlesnake restricted to a narrow range of mountain ranges in the desert southwest of the United States and Mexico. The Ridge-nosed rattlesnake complex consists of five subspecies that can be clearly identified from genetic and phenotypic markings.

The New Mexico Ridge-nosed rattlesnake can be identified by the lack of a "white flash mark" on the side of the head and lack of white vertical line on the rostral (in-between the nares) or mental scale (scale directly in the center of the bottom jaw.

The drab coloration of the New Mexico Ridge-nosed rattlesnake is liken to their habitat, where they occur in narrow stretches of suitable habitat. In the Animas Mountains, they are known to occur in areas of semi-evergreen oaks (Quercus sp.), conifers, and other tree-shrub combinations. The species is known to brumate in talus slides and will surface periodically for water on warm days.

The diet of the New Mexico Ridge-nosed rattlesnake was recently more thoroughly investigated (Holycross et al. 2002). The principle diet of the ridge-nosed rattlesnake consists of rodents (Peromyscus spp.) and lizards (primarily Sceloporus spp.); although like some other small snakes, they do consume centipedes! Other incidental prey they have been recorded consuming includes birds and other small mammals.