Mexican lance head rattlesnake

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Mexican lance head rattlesnake
Crotalus polystictus Mexican lance-head rattlesnake.jpg

Mexican lance-head rattlesnake ( Crotalus polystictus )

Systematics
Subordination : Snakes (serpentes)
Superfamily : Adder-like and viper-like (Colubroidea)
Family : Vipers (Viperidae)
Subfamily : Pit vipers (Crotalinae)
Genre : Rattlesnakes ( Crotalus )
Type : Mexican lance head rattlesnake
Scientific name
Crotalus polystictus
( Cope , 1859)

The Mexican lance-head rattlesnake ( Crotalus polystictus ) is a medium-sized species of rattlesnakes ( Crotalus ) that can only be found in the central Mexican highland plateau.

features

The Mexican lance-head rattlesnake is a medium-sized rattlesnake with an average body length of around 70 to 80 centimeters, but can be up to a meter long in individual cases. It is named after the narrow head of the species.

The basic color of the snake is light brown, cream or sand with a pattern on the back and the flanks of large, closely spaced patches of chestnut or dark brown color. The spots interlock so that the light basic color creates a mesh pattern. The head also has rounded, elongated spots of the same color, separated by light lines.

distribution and habitat

Distribution area

The distribution area of ​​the Mexican lance head rattlesnake is limited to the central Mexican highland plateau from southern Zacatecas and northeastern Colima east to Veracruz . It can be found at heights of 1,450 to 2,600 meters.

As a habitat, the snake prefers rocky areas within grass steppes and mixed pine-oak forests.

Snake venom

Specific effects and ingredients of the venom of this snake are unknown.

literature

  • Chris Mattison: Rattlers! - A natural history of rattlesnakes. Blandford, London 1996, p. 117, ISBN 0-7137-2534-6

Web links

Commons : Mexican lance-head rattlesnake ( Crotalus polystictus )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files