Western rattlesnake is a collective term that once referred to the 9 subspecies of crotalus viridis. Recently, it has been revised as differences in the genetic makeup seem to indicate that there were two distinct species - crotalus viridis and crotalus oreganus. However, this has not yet been universally accepted. However, western rattlesnake is still the term used for the collective subspecies of both nominate species. Based on this, Utah has two western rattlesnakes - the Great Basin rattlesnake and the midget faded rattlesnake.
Update - March 5, 2016:
Things are about to change for the western rattlesnake again. Click this link.
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