Crotalus pusillus

Crotalus pusillus
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Crotalinae
Genus:	Crotalus
Species:	C. pusillus
Binomial name
Crotalus pusillus Klauber, 1952
Synonyms
Crotalus triseriatus - Gadow, 1908 Crotalus triseriatus triseriatus - Klauber, 1936 Crotalus pusillus - Klauber, 1952[1]

Common names: Tancitaran dusky rattlesnake.^[2]

Crotalus pusillus is a venomous pitviper species found in west-central Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.^[3]

Description

Adult males may grow to more than 50 cm in length. Females are smaller. The largest recorded length for a specimen is 68.2 cm.^[2]

Behavior

Campbell and Lamar (2004) stated that they found this species only to be active during the day. Within its range, nighttime temperatures are low and apparently restrict its activity.^[2]

Geographic range

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. The type locality given is "Tancítaro, Michoacán, Mexico, altitude 5,000 ft." (5,000 ft. = 3,000 m).^[1] Occurs at elevations between 1,525 m and 2,380 m.^[2]

Conservation status

This species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with the following criteria: B1ab(iii) (v3.1, 2001).^[4] A species is listed as such when the best available evidence indicates that its extent of occurrence is estimated to be less than 5000 km², estimates indicate that its range is severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than five locations, and that a continuing decline has been, observed, inferred or projected in the area, extent and/or quality of its habitat. Therefore it is considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. The population trend is unknown. Year assessed: 2007.^[5]

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

1. ^ ^{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).
2. ^ ^{a b c d} 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.
3. ^ "Crotalus pusillus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=585828. Retrieved 1 August 2007. 
4. ^ Crotalus pusillus at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 13 September 2007.
5. ^ 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 13 September 2007.

External links

• Crotalus pusillus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 12 December 2007.