Crotalus polystictus

The Mexican lance-headed rattlesnake[3] or lance-headed rattlesnake[4] (Crotalus polystictus) is a venomous pit viper species found in central Mexico. No subspecies is currently recognized.[5]

Crotalus polystictus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Crotalus
Species:
C. polystictus
Binomial name
Crotalus polystictus
(Cope, 1865)
Synonyms
  • Crotalus lugubris Jan, 1859 (nomen oblitum)
  • C[rotalus]. lugubris var. multimaculata Jan, 1863
    (nomen oblitum)
  • Caudisona polysticta Cope, 1865 (nomen protectum)
  • Crot[alus]. lugubris var. multimaculata
    – Jan & Sordelli, 1874
  • C[rotalus]. polystictus – Cope In Yarrow In Wheeler, 1875
  • Crotalus Jimenezii Dugès, 1877
  • [Crotalus triseriatus] Var. jimenezii – Garman, 1884
  • Crotalus polystictus
    – Boulenger, 1896
  • Crotalus polystictus
    – Klauber, 1972[2]

Description

Adults usually grow to a total length of 60 to 70 cm (24 to 28 in), although exceptionally large specimens may be as much as 100 cm (39 in) long.[3]

Geographic range

The species is found on the plateau of central Mexico from southern Zacatecas and northeastern Colima east to east-central Veracruz. It occurs at elevations between 1,450 and 2,600 m (4,760 and 8,530 ft). The type locality given is "Table Land, Mexico", although a restriction to "Tupátaro, Guanajuanto, Mexico" was proposed by H.M. Smith and Taylor (1950).[2]

Conservation status

This species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001).[1] 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
  1. Mendoza-Quijano, F. & Quintero Díaz, G. (2007). "Crotalus polystictus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2017.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. 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.
  4. Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
  5. "Crotalus polystictus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
  6. 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 13 September 2007.

Further reading
  • Cope, E.D. 1865. Third contribution to the HERPETOLOGY of Tropical America. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 17: 185-198. (Caudisona polysticta, pp. 191–192.)
  • Smith, H.M. and E.H. Taylor. 1950. Type localities of Mexican reptiles and amphibians. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 33: 313-380.
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