Crotalus mitchellii stephensi
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| Crotalus mitchellii stephensi Klauber, 1930 |
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Common names: Panamint rattlesnake, Panamint rattler.[2]
Crotalus mitchellii stephensi is a venomous pit viper subspecies[3] found in southern Nevada and adjacent California.[4]
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[edit] Description
Adults are 58-132 cm in length, with an average of 60-91 cm.[5]
According to Klauber (1936), this subspecies is characterized by the absence of the vertical light line on the posterior edge of the prenasals and first supralabials. The supraocular scales are pitted, sutured or with the outer edges broken.[2]
The color pattern consists of a straw, tan, buff, brown or gray ground color, overload with a series of buff, gray, brown or deep red-brown blotches. Often, there are gray suffusions on the sides of the body and head, and a scattering of black-tipped scales on the back, especially at the edges of the blotches.[2]
[edit] Geographic range
Occurs in desert-mountain areas of eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada from Mono County, California, east to Nye County, Nevada, south through southwestern Nevada, southeast to Clark County, Nevada, and southwest to central San Bernardino County, California. Found at 900-2400 m altitude.[2]
[edit] Feeding
The diet consists of small mammals, lizards, and birds.[5]
[edit] Reproduction
These snakes are viviparous and the young are born in July and August. Neonates are about 25 cm in length.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] Cited references
- ^ 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).
- ^ a b c d Wright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates. (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. ISBN 0-8014-0463-0.
- ^ Crotalus mitchellii stephensi (TSN 209527). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 5 November 2006.
- ^ Behler JL, King FW. 1979. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp. LCCCN 79-2217. ISBN 0-394-50824-6.
- ^ a b c Crotalus mitchellii stephensi at Californiaherps.com. Accessed 5 November 2006.
