Crotalus stejnegeri

Common names: Long-tailed rattlesnake.^[2]

Crotalus stejnegeri is a venomous pitviper species found in western Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.^[3]

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Description

Adults do not usually grow to more than 60 cm in length. The greatest length recorded for a specimen is 72.4 cm. The tail is relatively long, representing 11-14.8% of the total length of adult male snakes and 9.8-12.5% in females. Klauber (1940) suggested that, since the rattle is tiny, it is probably not audible. A very rare species known only from approximately twelve specimens.^[2]

Geographic range

Found in western Mexico in the mountains and foothills of eastern Sinaloa, western Durango and probably northern Nayarit, between 500 m and 1,200 m altitude. The type locality given is "Plumosas [Plomosas], Sinaloa, Mexico."^[1]

Conservation status

This species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) 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 20,000 km², estimates indicate that it is severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than 10 locations, and a continuing decline has been observed, inferred or projected in its area, extent and/or quality of habitat. Therefore, it is considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. The population trend is down. Year assessed: 2007.^[5]

Habitat

Occurs in pine-oak forest, subtropical dry forest and tropical deciduous forest.^[1]

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