Crotalus
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 Timber rattlesnake, C. horridus
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Common names: rattlesnakes.<ref name="W&W57">Wright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. ISBN 0-4014-0463-0.</ref>
Crotalus is a genus of venomous pit vipers found only in the Americas from southern Canada to northern Argentina.<ref name="McD99"/> 27 species are currently recognized.<ref name="ITIS">Crotalus (TSN 174305). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 29 August 2006.</ref>
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[edit] Description
All species but one, C. catalinensis, are easily recognized by the characteristic rattle on the end of the tail. This genus should not be confused with the smaller species of the genus Sistrurus; these also have a rattle, but it is not as well developed.
[edit] Geographic range
The Americas from southern Canada to northern Argentina.<ref name="McD99"/>
[edit] Species
| Species<ref name="ITIS"/> | Authority<ref name="ITIS"/> | Subsp.*<ref name="ITIS"/> | Common name | Geographic range<ref name="McD99"/> |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C. adamanteus | Palisot de Beauvois, 1799 | 0 | Eastern diamondback rattlesnake | Southeastern USA |
| C. aquilus | Klauber, 1952 | 0 | Queretaran dusky rattlesnake | Highlands of central Mexico |
| C. atrox | Baird & Girard, 1853 | 0 | Western diamondback rattlesnake | Southwestern USA and northern Mexico |
| C. basiliscus | (Cope, 1864) | 0 | Basilisk rattlesnake | Western Mexico |
| C. catalinensis | Cliff, 1954 | 0 | Catalina island rattlesnake | Western Mexico (Isla Santa Catalina) |
| C. cerastes | Hallowell, 1854 | 2 | Sidewinder | Southwestern USA |
| C. durissus | Linnaeus, 1758 | 11 | Tropical rattlesnakes | Mexico to northern Argentina |
| C. enyo | (Cope, 1861) | 2 | Baja rattlesnakes | Western Mexico |
| C. horridusT | Linnaeus, 1758 | 0 | Timber rattlesnake | Eastern USA |
| C. intermedius | Troschel, 1865 | 2 | Small-headed rattlesnakes | Central and southern Mexico |
| C. lannomi | Tanner, 1966 | 0 | Autlan rattlesnake | Western Mexico |
| C. lepidus | (Kennicott, 1861) | 3 | Rock rattlesnake | Southwestern USA and northern central Mexico |
| C. mitchellii | (Cope, 1861) | 4 | Speckled rattlesnake | Southwestern USA and Baja California (Mexico) |
| C. molossus | Baird & Girard, 1853 | 3 | Black-tailed rattlesnake | Southwestern USA and Mexico |
| C. oreganus | Holbrook, 1840 | 6 | Western rattlesnake | |
| C. polystictus | (Cope, 1865) | 0 | Mexican lancehead rattlesnake | |
| C. pricei | Van Denburgh, 1895 | 1 | Twin-spotted rattlesnake | Southeastern USA and northern Mexico |
| C. pusillus | Klauber, 1952 | 0 | Tancitaran dusky rattlesnake | West-central Mexico |
| C. ruber | Coper, 1892 | 2 | Red diamond rattlesnake | |
| C. scutulatus | (Kennicott, 1861) | 1 | Mohave rattlesnake | Southwestern USA, Mexico |
| C. stejnegeri | Dunn, 1919 | 0 | Long-tail rattlesnake | Western Mexico |
| C. tigris | Kennicott in Baird, 1859 | 0 | Tiger rattlesnake | Southwestern USA and northwestern Mexico |
| C. tortugensis | Van Denburgh and Slevin, 1921 | 0 | Tortuga island diamond rattlesnake | Tortuga Island |
| C. transversus | Taylor, 1944 | 0 | Cross-banded mountain rattlesnake | Central Mexico |
| C. triseriatus | (Wagler, 1830) | 1 | Dusky rattlesnake | The highlands of the Transverse Volcanic Cordillera along the southern edge of the Mexican Plateau |
| C. viridis | (Rafinesque, 1818) | 1 | Prairie rattlesnake | Southwestern Canada, western USA, northern Mexico |
| C. willardi | Meek, 1905 | 4 | Ridge-nosed rattlesnake | Mountains of southwestern USA and northwestern Mexico |
*) Not including the nominate subspecies (typical form).
T) Type species.<ref name="McD99"/>
[edit] See also
- Crotalinae (pit vipers).
- List of rattlesnake species and subspecies.
- Snakebite.
[edit] Cited references
<references/>
[edit] External links
- Genus Crotalus at the EMBL Reptile Database
- Crotalus at Herpbreeder.com. Accessed 26 September 2006.
