Crotalus simus

Crotalus simus
	Crotalus simus tzabcan
Systematics
Subordination :	Snakes (serpentes)
Superfamily :	Adder-like and viper-like (Colubroidea)
Family :	Vipers (Viperidae)
Subfamily :	Pit vipers (Crotalinae)
Genre :	Rattlesnakes ( Crotalus )
Type :	Crotalus simus
Scientific name
	Crotalus simus
	Latreille In Sonnini & Latreille, 1801

Crotalus simus is a type of rattlesnake ( Crotalus ), the range of which extends from Mexico to Central America. Until 2004, this species was listed as the nominate form of the Schauer rattlesnake ( C. durissus ).

description

Crotalus simus is a very large rattlesnake that can reach an average length of 1.30 meters, with the males becoming larger than the females. Particularly large specimens reach 1.40 to 1.60 meters, the maximum length is 1.80 m.

distribution and habitat

The range of the snake stretches from Mexico in southwest Michoacán on the Pacific coast and Veracruz and the Yucatan Peninsula on the Atlantic coast to the south via Belize , Guatemala , El Salvador , Honduras and Nicaragua to Costa Rica . It is absent in Panama , but occurs again on the Atlantic coast of Colombia .

The habitat of the shower rattlesnake is characterized by dry, semi-arid forest areas and grass steppes as well as moist rainforest areas.

Poison

The poison of the snake is similar in its composition to the poisons of the Mexican and North American rattlesnakes and is therefore mainly characterized by tissue-destroying proteins. The effect consists mainly of tissue destruction, local painful swellings and hemorrhagic effects. Crotoxin , which is typical for the venom of the South American shower rattlesnake and has neurotoxic effects there, only occurs in young animals.

Subspecies

There are currently three subspecies:

C. s. culminatus in Mexico in southwestern Michoacán , south and west Morelos , Guerrero, and southeast Oaxaca . In addition, this subspecies is likely found in Puebla and the Mexican Federal District .
C. s. simus in southeastern Mexico from Veracruz , Oaxaca , Tabasco and Chiapas via Guatemala , Honduras , Belize , El Salvador , Nicaragua to Costa Rica .
C. s. tzabcan in Mexico in Yucatán , Campeche , Quintana Roo and eastern Tabasco , northern Guatemala and northern Belize .

Until 2004, this species was listed as the nominate form of the Schauer rattlesnake ( C. durissus ).

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c J.A. Campbell, WW Lamar: The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London 2004. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2 .
↑ Warrell DA. 2004: Snakebites in Central and South America: Epidemiology, Clinical Features, and Clinical Management. In Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2 .

Web links

Commons : Crotalus simus - collection of images, videos and audio files

Crotalus simus in The Reptile Database

[C&L04-1] J.A. Campbell, WW Lamar: The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London 2004. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2 .

[War-C&L04-2] Warrell DA. 2004: Snakebites in Central and South America: Epidemiology, Clinical Features, and Clinical Management. In Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2 .