Crotalus aquilus
Crotalus aquilus | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Viperidae |
Genus: | Crotalus |
Species: | C. aquilus
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Binomial name | |
Crotalus aquilus Klauber, 1952
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Synonyms | |
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Crotalus aquilus is a venomous pit viper species found in the highlands of central Mexico. No subspecies is currently recognized.[4] The specific name, aquilus, is Latin for "eagle" and refers to the high altitude at which this species is found.
Description[]
This species grows to a maximum reported total length of 67.8 cm (26.7 in), but most adult specimens, which have been described as heavy-bodied, are less than 50 cm (20 in) long.[2]
Geographic range[]
They are found in the highlands of central Mexico in Guanajuato, Hidalgo, México, Michoacán, and San Luis Potosí. The type locality given is "near Alvarez, San Luis Potosí, Mexico".
Habitat[]
These snakes are found in the open grassy and generally rocky habitats north of the Transverse Volcanic Cordillera. They also occur in pine-oak forest, open karstic areas, grassy mountain meadows, and stony mesquite-grassland.[2]
Conservation status[]
This species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (v3.1, 2001).[5] 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 population trend was down when assessed in 2007.[6]
References[]
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- ^ "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Crotalus aquilus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. March 2007.
- ^ a b c Campbell, J.A.; Lamar W.W. (2004). The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. pp. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2..
- ^ Klauber, L.M. (1997). Rattlesnakes: Their Habitats, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind. Second Edition. First published in 1956, 1972. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-520-21056-5.
- ^ "Crotalus aquilus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 9 July 2007.
- ^ Crotalus aquilus at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 13 September 2007.
- ^ 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 13 September 2007.
Further reading[]
- Klauber, L.M. 1952. Taxonomic studies on rattlesnakes of Mainland Mexico. Bull. Zool. Soc. San Diego 26: 1-143.
- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Crotalus
- Reptiles described in 1952