''Crotalus basiliscus'', known as the Mexican west coast rattlesnake,Campbell JA, Lamar WW (2004). ''The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere''. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. 870 pp., 1,500 plates. . Mexican green rattler, and also by
other names
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), ...
,Klauber LM (1997). ''Rattlesnakes: Their Habitats, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind''. Second Edition. First published in 1956, 1972. Berkeley: University of California Press. . is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
pit viper
The Crotalinae, commonly known as pit vipers,Mehrtens JM (1987). ''Living Snakes of the World in Color''. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. . crotaline snakes (from grc, κρόταλον ''krotalon'' castanet), or pit adders, are a subfa ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Viperidae
The Viperidae (vipers) are a family of snakes found in most parts of the world, except for Antarctica, Australia, Hawaii, Madagascar, and various other isolated islands. They are venomous and have long (relative to non-vipers), hinged fangs tha ...
. The species is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to western
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
. Like all other pit vipers, it is
venomous
Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...
. The
specific name Specific name may refer to:
* in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database
In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules:
* Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...
, ''basiliscus'', is derived from the
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
word for king, βασιλισκος (), and alludes to this snake's large size and potent venom. No
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
are currently recognized.
Description
''C. basiliscus'' is one of the largest rattlesnake species. Specimens exceeding are not uncommon, while the maximum size reported is (Klauber, 1972). The body is moderately stout and rather rectangular in cross section.United States Navy (1991). ''Poisonous Snakes of the World''. New York: US Government / Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. . Female rattlesnakes of the species are mature at a minimum length of and a weight of .Loc Barragán, Jesús & Carbajal Márquez, Rubén & Woolrich-Piña, Guillermo & Navarro-Orozco, Roy. (2016). ''Crotalus basiliscus. Arboreal habitat use/ Litter size''.. Mesoamerican Herpetology. 3. 494-496.
At midbody, 25-29 rows of strongly keeled
dorsal scales
In snakes, the dorsal scales are the longitudinal series of plates that encircle the body, but do not include the ventral scales. Campbell JA, Lamar WW (2004). ''The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere''. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publis ...
occur. The
ventral scales
In snakes, the ventral scales or gastrosteges are the enlarged and transversely elongated scales that extend down the underside of the body from the neck to the anal scale. When counting them, the first is the anteriormost ventral scale that conta ...
number 174-206 and the
subcaudals
In snakes, the subcaudal scales are the enlarged plates on the underside of the tail.Wright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. . These scales may be either single or divided (pair ...
18-36.
The color pattern consists of brown or grayish ground color overlaid with 26-41 dark, rhombus-shaped (diamond) blotches with light edges. The head is a uniform grayish-brown except for its lighter
labial scales
The labial scales are the scales of snakes and other scaled reptiles that border the mouth opening. These do not include the median scales on the upper and lower jawsWright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates (7 ...
and dark postorbital bar. No distinct pattern is found on the crown or neck areas. The tail may be gray, with darker bands, or almost uniform in color without any distinct markings. The belly is white or cream-colored. The young are mostly red, but adults eventually become an olive green. Within its range, this is the only rattlesnake with diamond-shaped dorsal markings.
This
snake
Snakes are elongated, Limbless vertebrate, limbless, carnivore, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other Squamata, squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping Scale (zoology), scales. Ma ...
often occurs in the same areas as '' C. molossus'', where the two appear to hybridize freely. While these two species are easily distinguished, identifying the hybrid specimens is problematic.
Common names
Common names for ''C. basiliscus'' include Mexican west coast rattlesnake, Mexican green rattler, Mexican west coast green rattlesnake,Mehrtens JM (1987). ''Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York'': Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. . and in Spanish ''cascabel verde mexicana''.
Geographic range
This rattler, ''C. basiliscus'', is found in western Mexico from southern
Sonora
Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is d ...
to
Michoacán
Michoacán, formally Michoacán de Ocampo (; Purépecha: ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán de Ocampo ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of ...
, where it is mostly restricted to the coastal plain. The type locality given is "Near
Colima
Colima (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Colima ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Colima), is one of the 31 states that make up the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It shares its name with its capital and ...
, Mexico".
Habitat
Around Colima, where ''C. basiliscus'' is (or was at one point) particularly plentiful, the area has been described as mostly treeless and covered with short grass with scattered clumps of mesquite, acacias, and other thorny bushes, as well as plenty of large
cacti
A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek ...
. The habitat of ''C. basiliscus'' is mostly tropical thorn forest, with an extension into tropical deciduous forest.
Conservation status
The species ''C. basiliscus'' is classified as Least Concern on the
IUCN Red List
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book, founded in 1964, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biol ...
(v3.1, 2001). Species are listed as such due to their wide distribution, presumed large population, or because they are unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The trend for this species was stable when assessed in 2007.
Behavior
In the lowlands, ''C. basiliscus'' is primarily active during the rainy summer months, and most specimens are found crossing the roads at night. However, a few have been seen basking early in the morning. It has been reported to tame quickly in captivity.
Feeding
Klauber reported that the stomachs of seven specimens of ''C. basiliscus'' contained
mammal
Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...
hair, probably belonging to
rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are na ...
s.
Venom
''Crotalus basilicus'' is known to produce large amounts of highly toxic venom, and large specimens should be regarded as very dangerous.
Brown (1973) mentioned an average venom yield of 297 mg (dried venom), as well as values of 11.1 mg/kg IV and 4.0 and 12.9 mg/kg IP.Brown JH (1973). ''Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes''. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. .
In some populations, the venom may contain a component structurally related to Mojave toxin. The venom also contains
protease
A protease (also called a peptidase, proteinase, or proteolytic enzyme) is an enzyme that catalyzes (increases reaction rate or "speeds up") proteolysis, breaking down proteins into smaller polypeptides or single amino acids, and spurring the ...
s.Norris R (2004). "Venom Poisoning in North American Reptiles". ''In'': Campbell JA, Lamar WW (2004). ''The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere''. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. 870 pp., 1,500 plates. .
Antivenin
Antivenom, also known as antivenin, venom antiserum, and antivenom immunoglobulin, is a specific treatment for envenomation. It is composed of antibodies and used to treat certain venomous bites and stings. Antivenoms are recommended only if th ...
is produced by the Instituto Nacional de Higiene in Mexico. In the US Protherics in
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
were recognized: ''C. b. basiliscus'' and ''C. b. oaxacus''. In that year, the latter was transferred to '' C. molossus'' by
Campbell Campbell may refer to:
People Surname
* Campbell (surname), includes a list of people with surname Campbell
Given name
* Campbell Brown (footballer), an Australian rules footballer
* Campbell Brown (journalist) (born 1968), American television ne ...
and Lamar. Occasionally, one may also encounter references to another subspecies, ''C. b. totonacus'' ( Gloyd & Kauffeld, 1940), found in northeastern Mexico. It was more commonly considered to be a subspecies of '' C. durissus'', until it was elevated to a full species by Campbell and Lamar (2004): ''
Crotalus totonacus
:''Common name: Totonacan rattlesnake''
''Crotalus totonacus'' is a venomous pit viper species found in northeastern Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Description
Adults frequently grow to more than in length. The largest recor ...
''.
References
Further reading
* Cope ED (1864). "Contributions to the Herpetology of Tropical America". ''Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia'' 16: 166-181. (''Caudisona basilisca'', new species, p. 166).
basiliscus
Basiliscus ( grc-gre, Βασιλίσκος, Basilískos; died 476/477) was Eastern Roman emperor from 9 January 475 to August 476. He became in 464, under his brother-in-law, Emperor Leo (457–474). Basiliscus commanded the army for an inva ...