Table of Contents
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Overview
Brief Summary
Notes
Holotype: ANSP 7098
Type-locality: "borders of the Mohave river, and in the desert of the Mohve" [California] (McDiarmid et al., 1999).
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Common Names
Sidewinder
Mojave desert sidewinder
Sonoran desert sidewinder
Colorado desert sidewinder
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Distribution
Range Description
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Geographic Range
The sidewinder ranges from the Mojave and sonoran deserts of southeastern California, western Arizona, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah. Sidewinders are often found in arid deserts, flatlands, loose, sandy washes, hard pan flats, and rocky areas below 5,000 feet. Sidewinders are also common ammong hummoks that are topped with creosote where their food source of kangaroo rats and other rodents live.This is the smallest and least dangerous snake in Nevada. However, this is the most common snake in the Las Vegas Valley. In Las Vegas, they are fairly common on the lower slopes of alluvial fans.
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National Distribution
United States
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
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Global Range: (200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)) The range extends from southeastern California, southern Nevada, and extreme southwestern Utah south through southwestern Arizona to northeastern Baja California and northwestern Sonora, and Isla Tiburon, Mexico (Grismer 2002, Stebbins 2003, Campbell and Lamar 2004). In Sonora, this species occurs north and west of the Nogales-Hermosillo-Guaymas highway, with the heaviest concentration in the Desierto de Altar (Armstrong and Murphy 1979). The elevational range extends from below sea level to about 6,000 feet (1,830 meters) (Stebbins 2003), but most localities are below 1,200 meters (Campbell and Lamar 2004).
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Distribution: USA (SE California, S Nevada, SW Arizona, SW Utah), Mexico (Baja California Norte, NW Sonora) cerastes: E California, W Nevada, SW Utah, NW Arizona;
Type locality: bank of the Mojave River and Mojave Desert, California, USA. cercobombus: Arizona, NW Sonora;
Type locality: near Gila Bend, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. laterorepens: California, Arizona, NE Baja California, NW Sonora;
Type locality: The Narrows, San Diego County, California, USA.
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Distribution
Southwestern USA (desert region of eastern California, southern Nevada, extreme southewestern Utah, and western Arizona) and northwestern Mexico (western Sonora and eastern Baja California) (McDiarmid et al., 1999).
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Physical Description
Morphology
Physical Description
The sidewinder is a pale, sand-colored snake that also may appear to look pinkish and yellow. They have light and dark patches along the back and speckles along the sides. The sidewinder has a wide triangular head, with a narrow neck that expands into a thick body. They have a short brown or black tail, that is connected to a small rattle.The sidewinder is the only snake that has a horn-shaped scales bulging out above their eye, which is how they get their nickname, the "Horned Rattlesnake". Also near their eyes, on the side of their head, they have holes called pits or hollows that are heat sensors that detect warm-blooded creatures. Adults average 30 inches in length, however females are usually larger than males so there is some sexual dimorphism.
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Size
Type Information
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Amphibians & Reptiles
Sex/Stage: ; Juvenile
Preparation: Ethanol
Locality: No Further Locality Data, California, United States, North America
- Paratype: Hallowell, E. 1854. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. 7 (3): 95.
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Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
Systems
- Terrestrial
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Habitat
Sidewinders are often found in arid deserts, flatlands, loose, sandy washes, hard pan flats, and rocky areas below 5,000 feet. Sidewinders are also common ammong hummoks that are topped with creosote where their food source of kangaroo rats and other rodents live.This is the smallest and least dangerous snake in Nevada. However, this is the most common snake in the Las Vegas Valley. In Las Vegas, they are fairly common on the lower slopes of alluvial fans.
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune
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Comments: This snake generally inhabits open desert terrain with fine windblown sand, desert flats with sandy washes, or sand dunes sparsely vegetated with creosotebush or mesquite; sometimes it occurs in rocky or gravelly sites (Lowe et al. 1986, Ernst and Ernst 2003, Stebbins 2003, Campbell and Lamar 2004). In the Mojave Desert, snakes concentrated near washes and areas of relatively dense vegetation where mammal burrows were common (Brown and Lillywhite 1992), though in other areas this snake has been found to be more common where vegetation is sparse. During the daytime inactive period, individuals retreat into underground burrows or under bushes, or, at the end of activity at night, snuggle into sand with a minimum of the body exposed, remaining partially buried through daylight until conditions become too hot (then seeking shade) (Brown and Lillywhite 1992). Hibernation sites are in in burrows of rodents or tortoises (Secor, cited by Ernst 1992; Brown and Lillywhite 1992). In the eastern Mojave Desert, sidewinders hibernated in rodent burrows at the sand-alluvium interface (Secor 1994). This terrestrial snake rarely climbs into vegetation.
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Migration
Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.
Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.
In the eastern Mojave Desert, moved seasonally up to several hundred meters between sand-alluvium hibernation areas and sandy summer habitat (Secor 1994).
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Trophic Strategy
Food Habits
The sidewinder is a carnivore. Their diet consists of lizards, small mammals like Kangaroo rats and pocket mice, other rodents that burrow, and sometimes birds. The pit organs are used to help find warm blooded animals to prey on. Sidewinders are the most nocturnal of rattlesnakes, so at night, they randomly wander over the desert until they find a place to burrow underneath the sand to hide. The following day they they stay burrowed until they find a prey to strike and feed. They kill their prey by hunting them down with their sidewinding moovement, then they strike their prey by biting them and releasing poisonous venom into the prey. After they bite a warm blooded animal, such as a rodent, they release it to track it down later. However, lizards are held until the venom takes effect.
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Comments: Preys mainly on lizards, pocket mice, kangaroo rats, and other small mammals. In many areas lizards are most important. Occasionally takes small birds and snakes.
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Population Biology
Number of Occurrences
Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.
Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 - 300
Comments: This species is represented by a large number of occurrences.
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Global Abundance
100,000 - 1,000,000 individuals
Comments: Adult population size is unknown but presumably exceeds 100,000. This snake is locally common in suitable habitat.
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General Ecology
By searching roads at night under favorable conditions, 30-47 per night have been found (see Ernst 1992).
Generally does not aggregate at hibernacula.
In the eastern Mojave Desert, California, density was around 1/ha. Activity ranges of individual snakes overlapped extensively, and snakes commonly shifted their centers of activity seasonally. Snakes traveled on average 32% of the days monitored during their April-October active season, with a resultant mean daily distance traveled of 35 m/day. Activity range averaged 20 ha (Secor 1994, 1995). Relatively sedentary after eating (Brown and Lillywhite 1992).
Taken by various carnivorous animals and often killed by vehicles on roads.
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Life History and Behavior
Cyclicity
Comments: Inactive in cold temperatures and extreme heat. Primarily nocturnal, retreats to cover during the day; in spring and fall, diurnal activity may occur in early morning or late afternoon. Active mainly February-November in extreme southern California, probably active all year at southern end of range (Klauber 1972, Ernst 1992). In the eastern Mojave Desert, California, initiates activity in March or April, ends activity in October or November; activity peaks occur in May-June and late September or October (Secor, in Ernst 1992). In Mexico, a peak in activity occurs in late May and early June, especially in the hours just after sundown (Armstrong and Murphy 1979).
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Life Expectancy
Lifespan/Longevity
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 27.3 years.
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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing
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Reproduction
Reproduction
Sidewinders give birth to live young. The two most important events in a sidewinders calander are mating and birth. Some femals take a year off of breeding and only breed every other year. Some even rest for two years, if the food supply is scarce. Sidewinders mate in April through May and sometimes in fall. When the male and female mate, the male snake crawls along the female's back, rubbing her with his chin to stimulate or arouse her. The male then will wrap his tail around her tail and then will try to bring their clocqe together. The clocque is a little flap that is near tail which is designed for mating and reproduction. If the female wants to mate, she will lift her tail and allow him to mate with her. The snakes can be mating fo several hours, and if one of the snakes decides to move, the other is dragged along. Females might mate with the same male snake or a different male snake. In case their is a different male snake, the female has a good selection of genes for her young and inceases the chances that at least some of her young will fit to survive. Females give birth to 15-18 young in late summer to early fall. The young are born 6 to 8 inches long. The birth takes only 2 to 3 hours altogether. Within a few minutes after being born, the baby sidewinder escapes out of a thin transparent membrane. The young stay near their birth place for a few days and then they disappear and have no future contact with their mother or their littermates. The sidewinder does not migrate over long distances, so being in the some area with one of their littermates isn't unlikely.
The sidewinder's life span varies. Sidewinders can live up to 20 to 30 years in captivity. In the wild, many of their lives are cut short because of predation, diseases, or vehicle accidents.
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Mating occurs in spring or fall. Viviparous. Gives birth to 5-18 (typically 7-12) young, mid-August through November (mainly October) (see Ernst 1992). Probably very few live longer than 10 years.
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Evolution and Systematics
Functional Adaptations
Functional adaptation
The sidewinder moves across a sandy substratum by fixing part of its body to the ground, pushing against the sand, and then lifting an adjacent part.
"Some desert vipers, such as a rattlesnake, Crotalus cerastes, of the southwestern United States, move across sand by what's called 'sidewinding.' The name refers to perhaps the oddest aspect of the motion, shown in figure 24.7c, the way the overall course of motion takes the snake at nearly a right angle to the heading of its head. As in normal serpentine movement, the snake propagates waves of bending rearward. But it doesn't slide along a serpentine path that traces the line of contact of those curves with the ground. Instead, it alternately fixes part of the body to the ground, pushing sideways against the sand, and lifts the adjacent part. So a given location of the snake never slides but repeatedly lifts and sets down. The process leaves a set of indentations in the sand at right angles to the snake's progress. In this way the snake never has to push against anything but a broad expanse of substratum--a good tactic since a sandy substratum doesn't resist being pushed upon at all well." (Vogel 2003:489)
Watch video
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
- Steven Vogel. 2003. Comparative Biomechanics: Life's Physical World. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 580 p.
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
Red List Criteria
Version
Year Assessed
Assessor/s
Reviewer/s
Justification
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Conservation Status
The subspecies of the sidewinder are the Mojave Desert Sidewinder. the Sonoran Sidewinder, and the Colorado Desert Sidewinder.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
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National NatureServe Conservation Status
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure
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NatureServe Conservation Status
Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure
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Trends
Population
Population Trend
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Global Short Term Trend: Relatively stable (=10% change)
Comments: Extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of subpopulations, and population size probably are relatively stable.
Global Long Term Trend: Increase of 10-25% to decline of 30%
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Threats
Threats
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Management
Conservation Actions
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Global Protection: Several to many (4-40) occurrences appropriately protected and managed
Comments: Several to many occurrences are in protected areas.
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
The sidewinder is not that big of a threat towards humans, because when they bite, they only release venom that will kill a creature that weighs 30 pounds. However, sidewinder venom causes swelling, uncomfortableness, and sickness.
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Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
The sidewinder provides snakeskin leather for boots and accessories, and anti-venom for medical purposes.
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Economic Uses
Comments: Venomous, though usually not especially dangerous to humans due to the small quantity of venom that is injected; however, human fatalities have occurred.
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Wikipedia
Crotalus cerastes
Crotalus cerastes is a venomous pitviper species found in the desert regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.[3]
Contents |
Description
A small species, with adult specimens measuring between 43 cm and 76 cm (17 to 30 in) in length.[2] According to Campbell and Lamar (2004), most adults are 50–80 cm (19.8 to 32 in) in length.[4] The females are larger than the males, which is unusual for this group of snakes.[5]
Midbody there are usually 21 rows of keeled dorsal scales.[2][6] In males there are 141 or fewer ventral scales; in females 144 or fewer.[2] Sometimes referred to as the horned rattlesnake because of the raised supraocular scales above its eyes. This adaptation may help shade the eyes or prevent sand drifting over them as the snake lies almost buried in it.[5]
The color pattern consists of a ground color that may be cream, buff, yellowish brown, pink or ash gray, overlaid with 28-47 dorsal blotches that are subrhombic or subelliptical.[4] In the nominate subspecies, the belly is white and the proximal lobe of the rattle is brown in adults. Klauber and Neill describe the ability of this species to display different coloration depending on the temperature—a process known as metachrosis.[2]
Common names
Sidewinder, horned rattlesnake, sidewinder rattlesnake, Mojave Desert sidewinder (for C. c. cerastes),[2] sidewinder rattler.[7]
Geographic range
In the southwestern United States, this species is found in the desert region of eastern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and western Arizona. In northwestern Mexico, it is found in western Sonora and eastern Baja California. Sonora is a northwestern state and the portion of Mexico bordering California and Arizona. Baja California is the peninsula south of California and west of the mainland of Mexico.
Conservation status
This species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001).[8] Species are listed as such due to their wide distribution, presumed large population, or because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The population trend is stable. Year assessed: 2007.[9]
Behavior
The common name sidewinder is an allusion to its unusual form of locomotion, which is thought to give it traction on windblown desert sand, but this peculiar locomotor specialization is used on any substrate that the sidewinder can move over rapidly. As its body progresses over loose sand, it forms a letter-J shaped impression, with the tip of the hook pointing in the direction of travel. Sidewinding is also the primary mode of locomotion in other desert sand dwellers, such as the horned adder (Bitis caudalis) and Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi), but many other snakes can assume this form of locomotion when on slick substrates (e.g., mud flats).
The species is nocturnal during hot months and diurnal during the cooler months of its activity period, which is roughly from March to November (probably longer in the southern part of its range).
Juvenile Sidewinders use their tails to attract lizard prey (see video: [1]), a behavior termed "caudal luring". Adult Sidewinders lose this behavior as they make the transition from lizard prey to their primary diet of desert rodents. Sidewinder juveniles appear to mimic both life stages of lepidopterans in their luring motions. Their fast luring motions resemble the fluttering of a moth and their slower tail movements resemble a caterpillar. Both movements have been observed to attract prey lizards.[10]
Neonatal sidewinders engage in a remarkable type of behavioral homeothermy that has not been observed in any other type of snake.[11] Following birth, the neonates mass together in their natal burrow. Most often, gravid females select an East facing, small diameter rodent burrow to birth in. For the first week or so of their lives, neonatal sidewinders literally plug the entrance to this burrow during daylight hours, forming a dynamic multi-individual mass that takes advantage of the hot exterior environment and the cool interior of the burrow to maintain an average aggregate temperature of 32°C (the optimal temperature for shedding). Experiments showed that the dynamic mass of neonates modifies the thermal environment at the burrow entrance such that the young can occupy a location that would ordinarily become lethally hot for an individual neonate (or even an adult).[11] Because of the constant movements of the neonates, the aggregate assumes stable temperature properties reminiscent of a homeothermic organism (i.e., maintains tight temperature tolerance ± 2°C).
Reproduction
Females produce up to 18 young, with an average of about 10 per litter. Like most other viperids, the young are born enveloped in thin embryonic membranes out of which they emerge shortly after being expelled from the mother. The young stay with their mother in a burrow for 7–10 days, shed for the first time, then leave their natal burrow. During this time, it is thought that the mother guards and protects them from predators.
Sidewinders mature at 2–3 years of age, are capable of reproducing annually, and give birth to live young. Some females skip reproductive opportunities.[12] Some might even skip two years, if the food supply is scarce. Sidewinders mate in April through May and sometimes in fall. When the male and female mate, the male snake crawls along the female's back, rubbing her with his chin to stimulate or arouse her. The male then will wrap his tail around her tail and then will try to bring their clocque together. The clocque is a little flap that is near tail which is designed for mating and reproduction. If the female wants to mate, she will lift her tail and allow him to mate with her. The snakes can be mating for several hours, and if one of the snakes decides to move, the other is dragged along. Females might mate with several males in a season. Females give birth to 5-18 young in late summer to early fall. The young are born 6 to 8 inches long. The birth takes only 2 to 3 hours altogether. Within a few minutes after being born, the baby sidewinder escapes out of a thin transparent membrane. The young stay at their natal burrow for 7–10 days until they shed[11] and then they disappear and have no future contact with their mother or their littermates. While the density of sidewinders can be up to 1 individual per hectare, individuals rarely encounter each other except during mating season.[12]
Sidewinders have an extraordinarily accelerated life cycle, with natural life expectancies of females of about five years.[12] Males may live quite a bit longer (max known natural life span of 13 years). Sidewinders can live more than 20 years when well fed in captivity (even females). Thus, it appears that energetics factor heavily into natural female mortality,[12] whereas predation might be the primary pressure on males. In the wild, females often die of post-birth exhaustion, but the lives of sidewinders are also cut short because of predation, diseases, and vehicle encounters.
Venom
These snakes are venomous, but possess a weaker venom than many other rattlesnakes. This, together with the smaller size of their venom glands, makes them less dangerous than their larger cousins. Still, any rattlesnake bite can be fatal and should be taken seriously and medical attention sought immediately.
Norris (2004) lists the following venom yields: 33 mg average and 63 mg maximum (Klauber, 1956), and 30 mg average and 80 mg maximum (Glenn & Straight, 1982).[13] Brown (1973) gives a venom yield of 33 mg (Klauber, 1956) and LD50 values for mice of 2.6 mg/kg IV, 3.0, 4.0, 2.3 mg/kg IP and 5.5 mg/kg SC for toxicity. With these figures, Brown calculated that the LD50 for an adult human being weighing 70 kg would be 385 mg (SC).[14]
Bites can cause pain, swelling, hemorrhagic bleb formation and ecchymosis. Any swelling is usually not particularly severe, but it can involve all of the affected limb as well as the trunk. Systemic symptoms can include nausea, dizziness, chills, coagulopathy and shock.[13] Klauber (1997) includes an account of a man who had been bitten on the first joint of the index finger of the right hand, with only a single fang penetrating. Although the bite itself was described as no more painful than a pin prick, a doctor was seen within about 25 minutes, and 10 cc of antivenin was administered. Within 2.5 hours his entire arm was swollen and the pain was violent, "as if the arm were soaked in a bucket of boiling oil."[15]
Ovine derived antivenom, CroFab, for North American pit viper envenomation has been widely available since 2001. Consultation with a local expert or regional poison control center should be obtained before administering antivenom. Previous antivenin (ACP) is no longer manufactured.
Subspecies
| Subspecies[3] | Taxon author[3] | Common name[15] | Geographic range[2] |
|---|---|---|---|
| C. c. cerastes | Hallowell, 1854 | Mojave Desert sidewinder | In the United States in the desert areas from northeastern Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County, California, northward to southern Mono County, California, east across Nevada to Washington County, Utah, and south through Mohave County, Arizona. Desert lowlands at elevations between 152 and 1,829 m. |
| C. c. cercobombus | Savage & Cliff, 1953 | Sonoran Desert sidewinder | In the United States from Yuma, Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties in Arizona, southward into Sonora, Mexico. |
| C. c. laterorepens | Klauber, 1944 | Colorado Desert sidewinder | The desert areas in the United States from central and eastern Riverside County, California, to Pinal County, Arizona, south to northwestern Sonora in Mexico, and northwest to northeastern Baja California. From the Colorado River to the desert foothills at elevations between 152 and 610 m. |
In popular culture
In Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill movies, Michael Madsen's character's codename is Sidewinder.
The American Heavy Metal band Avenged Sevenfold Made a song on the album City of Evil called "Sidewinder".
American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers mention sidewinders in Parallel Universe.
See also
- List of crotaline species and subspecies
- Crotalus by common name
- Crotalus by taxonomic synonyms
- Crotalinae by common name
- Crotalinae by taxonomic synonyms
- Snakebite
References
- ^ McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ^ a b c d e f g Wright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates. (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. ISBN 0-8014-0463-0.
- ^ a b c "Crotalus cerastes". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=174311. Retrieved 5 February 2007.
- ^ a b Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2.
- ^ a b Stidworthy J. 1974. Snakes of the World. Grosset & Dunlap Inc. 160 pp. ISBN 0-448-11856-4.
- ^ Behler JL, King FW. 1979. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp. LCCCN 79-2217. ISBN 0-394-50824-6.
- ^ Carr A. 1963. The Reptiles. Life Nature Library. Time-Life Books, New York. LCCCN 63-12781.
- ^ Crotalus cerastes at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 13 September 2007.
- ^ 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 13 September 2007.
- ^ Reiserer, R. S. and G. W. Schuett (2008) Aggressive mimicry in neonates of the sidewinder rattlesnake, Crotalus cerastes (Serpentes: Viperidae): stimulus control and visual perception of prey luring. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 95:81-91(11).
- ^ a b c Reiserer, R. S., G. W. Schuett, and R. L. Early (2008) Dynamic aggregations of newborn sibling rattlesnakes exhibit stable thermoregulatory properties. Journal of Zoology 274:277-283(7).
- ^ a b c d Reiserer, R. S. 2001. Evolution of Life Histories in Rattlesnakes, University of California, Berkeley. Advisors: Harry W. Greene and James L. Patton. ProQuest Digital Dissertations: http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/gateway.
- ^ a b Norris R. 2004. Venom Poisoning in North American Reptiles. In Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2.
- ^ Brown JH. 1973. Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. ISBN 0-398-02808-7.
- ^ a b Klauber LM. 1997. Rattlesnakes: Their Habitats, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind. Second Edition. First published in 1956, 1972. University of California Press, Berkeley. ISBN 0-520-21056-5.
Further reading
- Hallowell, E. Descriptions of new Reptiles from California. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 7: 91-97.
Source:
Wikipedia
Unreviewed
Crotalus cerastes cercobombus
Crotalus cerastes cercobombus is a venomous pitviper subspecies[4] found in an area that covers much of the eastern part of the Sonoran Desert in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The subspecific epithet means buzzertail.[3]
Contents |
Description
This form has the following distinguishing characteristics: the proximal rattle-matrix lobe is black in adult specimens, the ventral scales number 132-144/138-148 in males/females, the subcaudals number 18-24/14-19 in males/females, and there are usually less than 21 rows of midbody dorsal scales.[5]
Geographic range
Found in the United States from Yuma, Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties in Arizona, southward into Sonora, Mexico.[3] The type locality given is "near Gila Bend, Maricopa County, Arizona" (USA).[1]
Campbell and Lamar (2004) describe its range as the desert regions of south-central Arizona and parts of western Sonora, exclusive of the panhandle region in the west, but including Tiburon Island in the Gulf of Mexico.[5]
Taxonomy
This subspecies was established by J.M. Savage and F.S. Cliff, based on information that had previously been published by Stanford, Klauber and Hensley. They described their new form, C. c. cercobombus, as occupying the eastern half of the range for C. c. laterorepens as defined by Klauber.[3]
See also
- List of crotaline species and subspecies
- Crotalus by common name
- Crotalus by taxonomic synonyms
- Crotalinae by common name
- Crotalinae by taxonomic synonyms
- Snakebite
References
- ^ a b McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ^ Klauber LM. 1997. Rattlesnakes: Their Habitats, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind. Second Edition. First published in 1956, 1972. University of California Press, Berkeley. ISBN 0-520-21056-5.
- ^ a b c d Wright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates. (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. ISBN 0-8014-0463-0.
- ^ "Crotalus cerastes cercobombus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=209518. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
- ^ a b Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2.
Source:
Wikipedia
Unreviewed
Names and Taxonomy
Taxonomy
Comments: The three poorly defined subspecies are in need of taxonomic study (Ernst 1992).
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