Crotalus pusillus

Crotalus pusillus, or the Tancitaran Dusky Rattlesnake, is a venomous pit viper species found in west-central Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]

Crotalus pusillus
C. pusillus in Michoacán, Mexico
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Crotalus
Species:
C. pusillus
Binomial name
Crotalus pusillus

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).[4]

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.[4]

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).[2] It occurs at elevations between 1,525 and 2,380 metres (5,003 and 7,808 ft).[4]

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.[5]

References
  1. 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.
  2. 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).
  3. "Crotalus pusillus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
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