Crotalus ruber
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| Crotalus ruber Cope, 1892 |
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Common names: red diamond rattlesnake, red rattlesnake, red diamond snake,[2] more.
Crotalus ruber is a venomous pit viper species found in the southwestern California in the United States and Baja California in Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the typical form described here.[3]
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[edit] Description
This is a moderately large species that commonly exceeds 100 cm on the mainland. Large males may exceed 140 cm, although specimens of over 150 cm are quite rare. The largest specimen on record measured 162 cm (Klauber, 1937).[4]
[edit] Common names
Red diamond rattlesnake, red rattlesnake, red diamond snake, red diamond-backed rattlesnake, red rattler, western diamond rattlesnake.[2]
[edit] Geographic range
Found in the United States in southwestern California and southward through the Baja California peninsula, although not in the desert east of the Sierra de Juárez in northeastern Baja California. It also inhabits a number of islands in the Gulf of California, including Angel de la Guarda, Pond, San Lorenzo del Sur, San Marcos, Danzante, Monserrate and San José. Off the west coast of Baja California, it is found on Isla de Santa Margarita, which is off Baja California Sur, and (as C. exsul) on Isla de Cedros.[1]
Originally, no type locality was given, although two have been proposed: "Dulzura, San Diego County, California", by Smith and Taylor (1950), and "vicinity of San Diego, California" by Schmidt (1953).[1]
[edit] Habitat
Inhabits the cooler coastal zone, over the mountains and into the desert beyond. It prefers dense the chaparral country of the foothills, cactus patches and boulders covered with brush. Occurs from sea level to 1,500 m altitude.[5]
[edit] Feeding
Feeds on rabbits, ground squirrels and birds.[5] Wright and Wright (1957) also mention lizards and other snakes as being part of the diet of this species.[2]
[edit] Reproduction
Mating occurs between February an April. Females give birth in August to between 3 and 20 young. Neonates are 30 to 34 cm in length.[5]
[edit] Venom
Wright and Wright (1957) state that this species is of a mild disposition and has one of the least potent rattlesnake venoms, saying that they believe it does not come into snakebite statistics as do its relatives C. atrox and C. adamanteus.[2]
Brown (1973) lists an average venom yield of 364 mg (dried) and LD50 values of 4.0, 3.7 mg/kg IV, 6.0, 7.0, 6.7 mg/kg IP and 21.2 mg/kg SC for toxicity.[6]
However, Norris (2004) warns that this species has a relatively venom yield containing high levels of proteolytic enzymes, especially in the adults. A publication he mentions by Rael et al. showed that there are at least three proteolytic hemorrhagins that degrade fibrinogen and cause myonecrosis, but no Mojave toxin. On the other hand, three specimens from Mexico studied by Glen et al. (1983) did have Mojave toxin and lacked hemorrhagic activity.[7]
[edit] Subspecies
| Subspecies[3] | Authority[3] | Common name | Geographic range[1] |
|---|---|---|---|
| C. r. lorenzoensis | Radcliff & Maslin, 1975 | San Lorenzo Island rattlesnake | San Lorenzo Island in the Gulf of California. |
| C. r. lucasensis | Van Denburgh, 1920 | San Lucan diamond rattlesnake | Mexico, cape region of lower Baja California. |
| C. r. ruber | Cope, 1892 | Red diamond rattlesnake | The United States in southwestern California and Mexico in Baja California, except for the cape region of lower Baja California. |
[edit] See also
[edit] Cited references
- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ a b c Crotalus ruber (TSN 174316). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 7 February 2007.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ Brown JH. 1973. Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. ISBN 0-398-02808-7.
- ^ Norris R. 2004. Venom Poisoning in North American Reptiles. 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.
[edit] External links
- Species Crotalus ruber at the Species2000 Database.
- Crotalus exsul (=Crotalus ruber) Red Diamond Rattlesnake at San Diego Museum of Natural History. Accessed 7 February 2007.
