Sistrurus catenatus tergeminus
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| iWestern Massasauga | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sistrurus catenatus tergeminus Say, 1823 |
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Crotalus tergeminus |
The Western Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus tergeminus) is a subspecies of Massasauga rattlesnake found in the southwestern plains of the United States. Its range overlaps that of the Desert Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii) in areas, and intergrading of the subspecies is not unknown.
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[edit] Description
The Western Massasauga is a light gray base color, with dark gray or gray-brown blotches. Their underside is white with dark colored speckling. They are among the smallest of the rattlesnakes, growing to an average of 26 inches (66 cm), and have eyes with vertical pupils and a distinctive, dark stripe that runs along the side of the head which passes over the eye. As a rattlesnake, they have a rattle on their tail composed of keratin, which gains a new segment each time the snake shed's its skin. Snakes shed their skin at unpredictable intervals with growth, or in response to physical injury, and the rattle is fairly fragile and can break off, thus the number of segments on a rattlesnake's rattle is not an indicator of a snake's age.
[edit] Behavior
The Western Massasauga is primarily found in grassland areas, on the edge of open woodland, or on rocky hillsides, and often makes use of the burrows of other animals for shelter. They primarily eat rodents, but they may also eat lizards and frogs. Their rattles are significantly higher pitched than those of larger species of rattlesnake, sometimes giving them the nickname buzztail. They are primarily nocturnal, especially during the summer months when it is too hot for them to be active, but they will sometimes be found out sunning themselves. They are most often found immediately after rain storms.
[edit] Venom
Drop for drop, Massasauga venom is more potent than that of many larger species of rattlesnake, but due to the lower yield (the amount it is capable of delivering in a single bite) its potential for harm is greatly reduced. They are not considered to be deadly, but the venom is a powerful hemotoxin which can cause swelling, necrosis, and severe pain. Medical treatment should be sought immediately for any venomous snake bite. The antivenin CroFab, while not type specific, can be used to treat severe envenomations from Massasauga rattlesnakes.
