Interesting Facts
Common Names
Common Names in English:
Mohave Rattlesnake, Mojave (Green) Rattlesnake, Mojave Rattlesnake
Description
Physical Description
Species Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus
A heavy-bodied, dangeously venomous pit viper, with a thin neck and a large triangular head . Pupils are elliptical . Scales are keeled . Usually there are 2 or 3 large scales on the top of the head between the supraoculars . (The Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake usually has 4 or more small scales between the supraoculars.) A light stripe runs from behind the eye diagonally to the upper lip beyond the corner of the mouth , but does not cross over the lip. (The posterior light stripe of the Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake extends to the upper lip in front of the corner of the mouth, crossing over the lip.) Ground color varies from greenish gray, yellow, tan, olive green, to brown. Irregular, dark, well-defined, diamond or near diamond-shaped dorsal markings. Black and white rings surround a thick tail. The black rings are narrower than the light rings, and often offset . A rattle on the end of the tail, consisting of loose interlocking segments. A new rattle segment is added each time the skin is shed. Newborn snakes do not have a rattle - just a single button which does not make a sound . Similar to and easily confused with the Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, though there is little range overlap in California. Heat sensing pits on the sides of the head help the snake to locate prey by their warmth. Long, hollow, movable fangs connected to venom glands inject a very toxic venom which quickly immobilize prey. The snake can control the amount of venom injected and the fangs are replaced if broken . Bites on humans are potentially dangerous without immediate medical treatment. Even a dead snake can bite and inject venom if the jaws reflexively open when they are touched.[1]
Size/Age/Growth
Adults 24 - 51 inches long (61 - 129 cm) Most seen are 18 - 40 inches. Newborns are about 10.5 inches.[1]
Habitat
Inhabits grassland, desert scrub , rocky slopes , creosote bush flats, open juniper woodland, and light chaparral .[1]
Biology
Diet
Eats small mammals, including ground squirrels, mice, rats , rabbits and hares, and occasionally lizards, snakes , and toads. (Adult California Ground Squirrels are immune to rattlesnake venom and will intensely confront any snake they feel to be a threat .)[1]
Reproduction
Live-bearing; young are born July - September. Male to male combat occurs.[1]
Behavior
Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular during periods of excessive daytime heat, but also active during daylight when the temperature is more moderate. Not active during cooler periods in Winter. Prey is found while the snake is actively moving, or by ambush, where the snake waits near lizard or rodent trails , striking at and releasing passing prey. The snake then follows the trail of the envenomated animal and swallows it whole. When alarmed, a rattlesnake shakes its tail back and forth. The movement rubs the rattle segments together producing a buzzing sound which serves as a warning. Juveniles are born with only a silent button at the end of the tail.[1]
Taxonomy
- Domain:
Eukaryota
(
)
- Whittaker & Margulis,1978
- eukaryotes
- Kingdom:
Animalia
()
- Linnaeus, 1758
- animals
- Subkingdom:
Bilateria
()
- (Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983
- Branch:
Deuterostomia
()
- Grobben, 1908
- Infrakingdom:
Chordonia
()
- (Haeckel, 1874) Cavalier-Smith, 1998
- Phylum:
Chordata
()
- Bateson, 1885
- Chordates
- Subphylum:
Vertebrata
()
- Cuvier, 1812
- Vertebrates
- Infraphylum:
Gnathostomata
()
- Auct.
- Jawed Vertebrates
- Superclass:
Tetrapoda
()
- Goodrich, 1930
- Class:
Reptilia
()
- Reptiles
- Subclass:
Diapsida
()
- Infraclass:
Lepidosauromorpha
()
- Superorder:
Lepidosauria
()
-
- Order:
Squamata
()
- Suborder:
Serpentes
()
- (C. Linnaeus, 1758)
- Superfamily:
Colubroidea
()
- Family:
Viperidae
()
- Subfamily:
Crotalinae
()
- Genus:
Crotalus
()
- Linnaeus, 1758
- Specific name:
scutulatus
- (Kennicott 1861)
- Subspecies:
scutulatus
- Scientific name: - Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus (Kennicott 1861)
- Subspecies:
scutulatus
- Specific name:
scutulatus
- (Kennicott 1861)
- Genus:
Crotalus
(
- Subfamily:
Crotalinae
(
- Family:
Viperidae
(
- Superfamily:
Colubroidea
(
- Suborder:
Serpentes
(
- Order:
Squamata
(
- Superorder:
Lepidosauria
(
- Infraclass:
Lepidosauromorpha
(
- Subclass:
Diapsida
(
- Class:
Reptilia
(
- Superclass:
Tetrapoda
(
- Infraphylum:
Gnathostomata
(
- Subphylum:
Vertebrata
(
- Phylum:
Chordata
(
- Infrakingdom:
Chordonia
(
- Branch:
Deuterostomia
(
- Subkingdom:
Bilateria
(
- Kingdom:
Animalia
(
Unambiguous Synonyms
- Caudisona scutulata Kennicott, 1861
Notes
Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: October 21, 1999.
Similar Species
Members of the genus Crotalus
ZipcodeZoo has pages for 186 species and subspecies in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:
C.abyssus · C.adamanteus (Eastern Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake) · C.adamanteus pleistofloridensis · C.adamanteus ruber · C.adamantus · C.addmanteus · C.admanteus · C.angelensis · C.aquilus · C.atricaudatus · C.atrose · C.atrox (Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake) · C.atrox=cinereus · C.atrox atrox (Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake) · C.atrox elegans · C.basciliscus · C.basiliscus (Mexican West Coast Rattlesnake) · C.basiliscus basiliscus · C.basiliscus oaxacus · C.biseriatus · C.caliginis · C.cascavella · C.catalinensis (Santa Catalina Island Rattlesnake) · C.cerastes (Gehörnte Klapperschlange) · C.cerastes cerastes (Mojave Desert Sidewinder) · C.cerastes cercobombus (Sonoran Sidewinder) · C.cerastes laterorepens (Colorado Desert Sidewinder) · C.cerberus · C.cinereous · C.concolor · C.confluentus · C.confluentus abyssus · C.confluentus kellyi · C.confluentus lutosus · C.confluentus nuntius · C.confluentus stephensi · C.culminatus · C.cumanensis · C.duriscus · C.durissus (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C.durissus cascavella (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C.durissus collilineatus (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C.durissus culminatus (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C.durissus cumanensis (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C.durissus dryinas · C.durissus dryinus · C.durissus durissus (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C.durissus marajoensis (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C.durissus ruruima (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C.durissus terrificus (South American Rattlesnake) · C.durissus totonacus (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C.durissus trigonicus (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C.durissus tzabcan (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C.enyo (Lower California Rattlesnake) · C.enyo cerralvensis · C.enyo enyo (Lower California Rattlesnake) · C.enyo furvus · C.ericsmithi (Guerreran Long-Tailed Rattlesnake) · C.estebanensis · C.exsul · C.gloydi lautus · C.goldmani · C.guttata · C.helleri · C.horridus (Timber Rattlesnake (Atricaudatus)) · C.horridus atricaudatus · C.horridus horridus (Timber Rattlesnake (Atricaudatus)) · C.hortulanus · C.intermedius (Mexican Smallhead Rattlesnake) · C.intermedius gloydi · C.intermedius intermedius (Mexican Smallhead Rattlesnake) · C.intermedius omiltemanus · C.lannomi (Autlán Long-Tailed Rattlesnake) · C.lecontei · C.lepidus (Rock Rattlesnake) · C.lepidus klauberi (Banded Rock Rattlesnake) · C.lepidus lepidus (Mottled Rock Rattlesnake) · C.lepidus maculosus (Rock Rattlesnake) · C.lepidus morulus (Rock Rattlesnake) · C.lepidus semicornutus · C.lorenzoensis · C.lucasensis · C.lucifer · C.mitchelli · C.mitchellii (Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake) · C.mitchellii angelensis (Speckled Rattlesnake) · C.mitchellii mitchellii (Speckled Rattlesnake) · C.mitchellii muertensis (Speckled Rattlesnake) · C.mitchellii pyrrhus (Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake) · C.mitchellii stephensi (Panamint Rattlesnake) · C.mitchelli angelensis · C.mitchelli mitchelli · C.mitchelli muertensis · C.mitchelli pyrrhus (Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake) · C.molassus · C.molossus (Black-Tailed Rattlesnake) · C.molossus estebanensis (Black-Tailed Rattlesnake) · C.molossus molossus (Black-Tailed Rattlesnake) · C.molossus nigrescens (Black-Tailed Rattlesnake) · C.molossus nigriscens
More Info
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Further Reading
- Amaral (1929) Bull. Antivenin Inst. Am. II(4):86-97
- Banks, R. C., R. W. McDiarmid, and A. L. Gardner 1987. Checklist of Vertebrates of the United States, the U.S. Territories, and Canada. Resource Publication, no. 166. United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service. Washington, D.C., USA. 79.
- Bartlett, R.D. , and Alan Tennant. Snakes of North America - Western Region. Gulf Publishing Co., 2000.
- Behler, John L., and F. Wayne King. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, 1992.
- Brown, Philip R. A Field Guide to Snakes of California. Gulf Publishing Co., 1997.
- Bulletin - United States National Museum. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, [etc.];1877-1971. ENG url p. 194, p. 205, p. 206, p. 213, p. 214, p. 216.
- Bush et al. (1999) Wilderness and Environmental Medicine 10(1):6-9.
- Campbell (1979) Southwestern Naturalist 24 (4): 683-714
- Campbell and Lamar (1989) Venomous Rept. Latin America.
- Conant and Collins (1991) Field Guide Rept. Amph. E/C North America, 3rd ed.
- Cope (1875) Government Printing office, Washington D.C.
- Ernst, Carl H., Evelyn M. Ernst, and Robert M. Corker. Snakes of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, 2003.
- Ernst, Carl. H. Venomous Reptiles of North America. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1999.
- Flores-Villela, Oscar / McCoy, C. J., ed. 1993. Herpetofauna Mexicana: Lista anotada de las especies de anfibios y reptiles de M and amp;eacute;xico, cambios taxon and amp;oacute;micos recientes, y nuevas especies. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication, no. 17. Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. iv + 73. ISBN: 0-911239-42-1.
- Glenn et al. (1983) Toxicon 21(1):119-130
- Kennicott (1861) Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 13: 206-207
- Klauber (1930) Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 6 (3): 95-144
- Klauber, Laurence M. Rattlesnakes. University of California Press. (Abridged from the 1956 two volume Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind.) University of California Press, 1982.
- McDiarmid et al. (1999) Snake species of the world, v.1.
- McDiarmid, Roy W., Jonathan A. Campbell, and T'Shaka A. Tour and eacute;1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. The Herpetologists' League. Washington, D.C., USA. xi + 511. ISBN: 1-893777-01-4.
- Murphy et al. (1988) Herpetologica 44 (1): 119-123
- Occasional papers of the Museum of Natural History, the University of Kansas. Lawrence, Kansas: The University, 1971-1994. ENG url p. 22.
- Powell et al. (1990) Salamandra 26 (4): 319-320
- Price (1982) Cat. Amer. Amph. Rept. No. 291 1982: 1-2
- Rael et al. (1984) Toxicon 22(6):980-984
- Stebbins (1985) Field Guide Western Rept. and Amph., 2nd ed.
- Stebbins, Robert C. 1985. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Second Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston, Mass. 336.
- Stebbins, Robert C. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians. 3rd Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003.
- Strimple (1996) Litteratura Serpentium 16 (2): 36-38
- The Great Basin naturalist. Provo, Utah, M.L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University. ENG url p. 664.
- The University of Kansas science bulletin. [Lawrence]: University of Kansas, 1902-1996. ENG url p. 353, p. 370.
- The natural history of Mexican rattlesnakes / by Barry L. Armstrong and James B. Murphy. Lawrence: University of Kansas, 1979. ENG url p. 48.
- Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History. [San Diego]: The Society, 1905- ENG url p. 375, p. 7, p. 80.
- Wartenberg (2004) Draco 5 (17): 68-72
- Woodbury et al. (1947) Copeia 1947 (1): 66
- Wright, Albert Hazen and Anna Allen Wright. Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Cornell University Press.
Notes
Contributors
- Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed April 18, 2007.
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed March 14, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from provider.
- Nafis, Gary. California Reptiles and Amphibians. Accessed June 23, 2009.
- NatureServe. 2003. Downloadable animal data sets. NatureServe Central Databases. Accessed February 6, 2005.
- Uetz, Peter. The Reptile Database
Identifiers
- Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2538279
- Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Rep-8054
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13515897
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 209534
- Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: ARADE02101
- Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 18103
Footnotes
- Nafis, Gary. California Reptiles and Amphibians [back]
