Crotalus totonacus
Species of snake
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Crotalus totonacus is a venomous pit viper species found in northeastern Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.[5]
| Crotalus totonacus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Crotalus |
| Species: | C. totonacus |
| Binomial name | |
| Crotalus totonacus Gloyd & Kauffeld, 1940 | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
- Common name: Totonacan rattlesnake[4]
Description
Adults frequently grow to more than 150 cm (4 ft 11 in) in length. The largest recorded specimen was 166.5 cm (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in) in length.[4]
Geographic range
It is found in northeastern Mexico from central Nuevo León through southern Tamaulipas, northern Veracruz, eastern San Luis Potosí and northern Querétaro.[4] The type locality given is "Panaco Island, about 75 miles [120 km] south of Tampico, Veracruz, Mexico, 12 miles [19 km] inland from Cabo Rojo".[3]
Diet
Crotalus totonacus is known to prey on small mammals and birds. In addition to mammal hair and bird feathers found in stomachs, specific prey items include cave rats (Neotoma sp.), Allen's tree squirrels (Sciurus alleni), and rock squirrels (Spermophilus [Otospermophilus] variegatus).[6]
Taxonomy
This species was previously considered a subspecies of C. durissus.[3]