| Crotalus pusillus | |
|---|---|
| |
| C. pusillus in Michoacán, Mexico | |
| Conservation status | |
 Endangered (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Crotalus |
| Species: | C. pusillus |
| Binomial name | |
| Crotalus pusillus Klauber, 1952 | |
| |
Crotalus pusillus, or the Tancitaran Dusky Rattlesnake, is a venomous pit viper species found in west-central Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Description
Adult males may grow to more than 50 cm (20 in) in length, while females are smaller. The largest recorded length for a specimen was 68.2 cm (26.9 in).
Behavior
Campbell and Lamar (2004) found this species only to be active during the day. Within its range, night temperatures are low and seem to restrict its activity.
Geographic range
It is found in west-central Mexico in the Sierra de Coalcomán of southwestern Michoacán, the Transverse Volcanic Cordillera of west-central Michoacán, and in adjacent Jalisco. It is probably also found in northeastern Colima. Its type locality is reported as "Tancítaro, Michoacán, Mexico, altitude 5,000 ft" (5,000 ft = 1,524 m). It occurs at elevations between 1,525 and 2,380 metres (5,003 and 7,808 ft).
Conservation status
This species is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The population trend was unknown when assessed in 2007.
References
- Ponce-Campos, P.; García Aguayo, A. (2007). "Crotalus pusillus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T64329A12770446. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T64329A12770446.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ 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).
- "Crotalus pusillus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
- ^ 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.
- 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 13 September 2007.
Further reading
- Klauber, L.M. 1952. Taxonomic studies on rattlesnakes of Mainland Mexico. Bull. Zool. Soc. San Diego 26:1-143.
External links
- Crotalus pusillus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 12 December 2007.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Crotalus pusillus | |