Crotalus mitchellii

Crotalus Mitchellii

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Crotalus mitchellii

Common names: speckled rattlesnake, Mitchell's rattlesnake, white rattlesnake.

Crotalus mitchellii is a venomous
Venomous snake

A venomous snake is a snake that uses modified saliva, snake venom, usually delivered through highly specialized teeth such as hollow fangs, for the purpose of prey immobilization and self-defense....
pitviper
Crotalinae

The Crotalinae, or crotalines, are a subfamily of venomous snake Viperidaes found in Asia and the Americas. They are distinguished by the presence of a heat-sensing pit organ located between the eye and the nostril on either side of the head....
species
Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring....
found in the Southwestern United States
Southwestern United States

The Southwestern area of the United States could be defined as the states west of the Mississippi River, with the qualification of a certain northern limit, such as the 37th parallel north, 38th parallel north, 39th parallel north, or 40th parallel north line....
, and in northern Mexico
Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federalism constitutionalism republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico....
. It was named in honor of Silas Weir Mitchell (1829-1914), a medical doctor who also studied rattlesnake venoms. Five subspecies
Subspecies

In biology, subspecies is the taxonomic rank immediately subordinate to a species. A subspecies is a taxonomic group which is less distinct than the Common descent or species from which it originates....
are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

rally, this species does not exceed 100 cm in length, with large males measuring between 90 and 100 cm.

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Encyclopedia

Common names: speckled rattlesnake, Mitchell's rattlesnake, white rattlesnake.
Crotalus mitchellii is a venomous
Venomous snake

A venomous snake is a snake that uses modified saliva, snake venom, usually delivered through highly specialized teeth such as hollow fangs, for the purpose of prey immobilization and self-defense....
pitviper
Crotalinae

The Crotalinae, or crotalines, are a subfamily of venomous snake Viperidaes found in Asia and the Americas. They are distinguished by the presence of a heat-sensing pit organ located between the eye and the nostril on either side of the head....
species
Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring....
found in the Southwestern United States
Southwestern United States

The Southwestern area of the United States could be defined as the states west of the Mississippi River, with the qualification of a certain northern limit, such as the 37th parallel north, 38th parallel north, 39th parallel north, or 40th parallel north line....
, and in northern Mexico
Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federalism constitutionalism republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico....
. It was named in honor of Silas Weir Mitchell (1829-1914), a medical doctor who also studied rattlesnake venoms. Five subspecies
Subspecies

In biology, subspecies is the taxonomic rank immediately subordinate to a species. A subspecies is a taxonomic group which is less distinct than the Common descent or species from which it originates....
are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Description
Generally, this species does not exceed 100 cm in length, with large males measuring between 90 and 100 cm. The race on Angel de la Guarda Island is known to become larger, the maximum recorded length for a specimen there being 136.7 cm. In contrast, the population on El Muerto Island only reaches a maximum of 63.7 cm in length.

Conservation status
This species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN
World Conservation Union

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is an international organization dedicated to natural resource Conservation ethic....
Red List of Threatened Species
IUCN Red List

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , created in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global Conservation movement status of plant and animal species....
(v3.1, 2001). Species are listed as such due to their wide distribution, presumed large population, or because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The population trend is stable. Year assessed: 2007.

Geographic range
Found in the southwestern United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
and in northwestern Mexico
Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federalism constitutionalism republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico....
. In the United States, its range includes east-central and southern California
California

California is a U.S. state on the West Coast of the United States of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada to the east, Arizona to the southeast, and to the south the Mexico state of Baja California....
, southwestern Nevada
Nevada

Nevada is a U.S. state located in the Western United States of the United States of America. The capital is Carson City and the largest city is Las Vegas, Nevada....
, extreme southwestern Utah
Utah

The State of Utah is a western United States U.S. state of the United States. It was the List of U.S. states by date of statehood admitted to the United States on January 4, 1896....
and western Arizona
Arizona

The State of Arizona is a U.S. state located in the Southwestern United States of the United States. The capital and largest city is Phoenix, Arizona....
. In Mexico it is native in most of Baja California
Baja California

Baja California is the northernmost States of Mexico of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North Territory of Baja California....
, including Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur

Baja California Sur The state is known for its natural riches and tourism. The Vizca?no Desert and small coastal lakes San Ignacio and Ojo de Liebre in the north are protected by the federal government....
. It also inhabits a number of islands in the Gulf of California
Gulf of California

The Gulf of California is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexico mainland. It is bordered by the States of Mexico of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, and Sinaloa....
, including Angel de la Guarda, Carmen, Cerralvo, El Muerto, Espíritu Santo, Monserrate, Piojo, Salsipuedes, San José, as well as on Santa Margarita Island off the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur.

The type locality is listed as "Cape St. Lucas, Lower California" (Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula at , in the municipality of Los Cabos in the states of Mexico of Baja California Sur, Mexico....
, Baja California Sur, Mexico).

Subspecies

Subspecies Taxon author Common name Geographic range
C. m. angelensis
Crotalus mitchellii angelensis

Crotalus mitchellii angelensis is a venomous snake Crotalinae subspecies endemic to Angel de la Guarda Island in the Gulf of California, Mexico....
Klauber
Laurence Monroe Klauber

Laurence M. Klauber , was an United States herpetology, and was considered to be the foremost authority on rattlesnakes.Klauber didn't start out as a herpetologist....
, 1963 Angel de la Guarda Island speckled rattlesnake Mexico
Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federalism constitutionalism republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico....
, on the island of Ángel de la Guarda
Isla Ángel de la Guarda

Isla ?ngel de la Guarda, also called Archangel Island, and called Xazl Iimt The island is extremely dry, with no sources of freshwater other than arroyo following rainfall....
.
C. m. mitchellii (Cope
Edward Drinker Cope

Edward Drinker Cope was an United States paleontology and comparative anatomy, as well as a noted herpetology and ichthyology.Born to a wealthy Society of Friends family, Cope quickly distinguished himself as a child prodigy interested in science; he published his first scientific paper in 1859....
, 1861) San Lucan speckled rattlesnake Mexico, in Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur

Baja California Sur The state is known for its natural riches and tourism. The Vizca?no Desert and small coastal lakes San Ignacio and Ojo de Liebre in the north are protected by the federal government....
and on the islands of Santa Margarita, Cerralvo, Espíritu Santo, San José, Monserrate and Carmen.
C. m. muertensis
Crotalus mitchellii muertensis

Crotalus mitchellii muertensis is a venomous snake Crotalinae subspecies Endemism to El Muerto Island, Mexico....
Klauber, 1949 El Muerto Island speckled rattlesnake Mexico, on the island of El Muerto.
C. m. pyrrhus
Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus

Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus is a venomous snake Crotalinae subspecies found in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. A medium-sized snake, it is found mostly in rocky country, active at night and feeding on small mammals....
(Cope, 1866) Southwestern speckled rattlesnake The United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
in southern California
California

California is a U.S. state on the West Coast of the United States of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada to the east, Arizona to the southeast, and to the south the Mexico state of Baja California....
, southern Nevada
Nevada

Nevada is a U.S. state located in the Western United States of the United States of America. The capital is Carson City and the largest city is Las Vegas, Nevada....
, southwestern Utah
Utah

The State of Utah is a western United States U.S. state of the United States. It was the List of U.S. states by date of statehood admitted to the United States on January 4, 1896....
and western Arizona
Arizona

The State of Arizona is a U.S. state located in the Southwestern United States of the United States. The capital and largest city is Phoenix, Arizona....
. Mexico in northwestern Sonora
Sonora

Sonora is one of the 31 States of Mexico and is located in the northwest of the country....
and northern Baja California
Baja California

Baja California is the northernmost States of Mexico of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North Territory of Baja California....
.
C. m. stephensi Klauber, 1930 Panamint rattlesnake The United States in east-central California and southwestern Nevada.

Taxonomy
Grismer (1999) argued that C. m. angelensis
Crotalus mitchellii angelensis

Crotalus mitchellii angelensis is a venomous snake Crotalinae subspecies endemic to Angel de la Guarda Island in the Gulf of California, Mexico....
and C. m. muertensis
Crotalus mitchellii muertensis

Crotalus mitchellii muertensis is a venomous snake Crotalinae subspecies Endemism to El Muerto Island, Mexico....
should be given species status, mainly due to differences in body size.

See also

List of crotaline species and subspecies
List of crotaline species and subspecies

This is a list of all Genus, species and subspecies of the Family Crotalinae, otherwise referred to as crotalines, pit vipers or pitvipers. It follows the Alpha taxonomy currently provided by Integrated Taxonomic Information System, which is based on the continuing work of Dr....
Snakebite
Snakebite

Snakes often bite their prey when feeding, but occasionally they also bite humans. People can avoid and treat snakebites by knowing their etiology, along with prevention tips, and first-aid and hospital treatment....

External links

at . Accessed 25 February 2007.
at . Accessed 25 February 2007.
at . Accessed 25 February 2007.
at . Accessed 25 February 2007.
at . Accessed 4 January 2008.