Crotalus horridus

Crotalus horridus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Crotalinae
Genus: Crotalus
Species: C. horridus
Binomial name
Crotalus horridus
Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
  • Crotalus horridus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Crotalus boiquira Lacépède, 1789
  • Crotalus atricaudatus Latreille In Sonnini & Latreille, 1801
  • Crotalus zetazomae Brickell, 1805
  • Crotalinus cyanurus
    Rafinesque, 1818
  • Crotalus catesbaei
    Hemprich, 1820
  • Crotalurus cyanurus
    – Rafinesque, 1820
  • Caudisona horrida
    – Fleming, 1822
  • C[rotalus]. horidus Gray, 1825
    (ex errore)
  • Crotalus durissus var. concolor
    Jan, 1859
  • Crotalus durissus var. melanurus Jan, 1859
  • C[rotalus]. durissus var. mexicana Jan, 1863
  • Crotalus fasciatus Higgins, 1873
  • Crotalus horridus var. atricaudatus – Garman, 1884
  • Crotalus horridus
    – Boulenger, 1896
  • Crotalus durissus cincolor
    Notestein, 1905 (ex errore)
  • Crotalus horridus horridus
    – Gloyd, 1935
  • Crotalus horridus atricaudatus
    – Gloyd, 1935
  • Crotalus horridus
    – Collins & Knight, 1980[2]
Adult Crotalus horridus, Florida
Juvenile Crotalus horridus, Florida

Crotalus horridus, commonly known as the timber rattlesnake, canebrake rattlesnake or banded rattlesnake,[3] is a species of venomous pit viper endemic to the eastern United States. This is the only rattlesnake species in most of the populous northeastern United States and is second only to its cousins to the west, the prairie rattlesnake, as the most northerly distributed venomous snake in North America.[4][5] No subspecies is currently recognized.[6]

Description

Adults usually grow to total length of 91–152 cm (35.8–59.8 in).[4] It was found in Pennsylvania that the smallest size females could produce viable eggs was 72.2 cm (28.4 in).[7] Most adult timber rattlesnakes found measure less than 100 to 115 cm (39 to 45 in) in total length and weigh on average between 500 and 1,500 g (1.1 and 3.3 lb), often being towards the lower end of that weight range.[8][9][10][11] The maximum reported total length is 189.2 cm (74.5 in) (Klauber, 1956). Holt (1924) mentions a large specimen caught in Montgomery County, Alabama, which had a total length of 159 cm (62.6 in) and weighed 2.5 kg (5.5 lb).[12] Large specimens can reportedly weigh as much as 4.5 kg (9.9 lb).[13]

The dorsal scales are keeled[14] and arranged in 21–26 scale rows at midbody (usually 25 rows in the southern part of its geographic range, and 23 rows in the northern part). The ventral scales number 158-177 in males and 163–183 in females. Males have 20–30 subcaudal scales, while females have 15–26. The rostral scale is normally a little higher than it is wide. In the internasal-prefrontal area there are 4–22 scales that include 2 large, triangular internasal scales that border the rostral, followed by 2 large, quadrangular prefrontal scales (anterior canthals) that may contact each other along the midline, or may be separated by many small scales. Between the supraocular and internasal, only a single canthal scale is present. There are 5–7 intersupraocular scales. The number of prefoveal scales varies between 2 and 8. Usually the first supralabial scale is in broad contact with the prenasal scale, although slightly to moderately separated along its posteroventral margin by the most anterior prefoveals.[12]

Dorsally, they have a pattern of dark brown or black crossbands on a yellowish brown or grayish background. The crossbands have irregular zig-zag edges, and may be V-shaped or M-shaped. Often a rust-colored vertebral stripe is present. Ventrally they are yellowish, uniform or marked with black.[15] Melanism is common, and some individuals are very dark, almost solid black.[16]

Geographic range

Found in the eastern United States from southern Minnesota and southern New Hampshire, south to east Texas and north Florida.[17]

Its historic range includes southern Ontario and southern Quebec in Canada,[2] but in May 2001, the Canadian Species at Risk Act listed it as extirpated in Canada.[18] A Canadian government sponsored recovery strategy is currently under study to support the reintroducing of this predator of many pests to its former Canadian habitat.

Although several experts disagree, many were found in some of the thick forest areas of central and southeastern Iowa, mostly within the Mississippi, Skunk, Iowa, and Des Moines River valleys, in several places in these areas; bites from timber rattlesnakes have been widespread, especially in a localized area of Geode State Park, in southeastern Henry County, along Credit Island Park, in southern Scott County, and in the forested areas of southern Clinton County.

In Pennsylvania, it is not found west of Chestnut Ridge, which is in the Laurel Highlands, nor is it found in the southeastern corner of the state. Thus, its range does not include the areas of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, the two largest cities in Pennsylvania.[4] C. horridus is extinct in Maine and Rhode Island and is almost extinct in New Hampshire.

In Massachusetts, the snakes are active from mid-May to mid-October.[19] Early settlers were afraid of the snake, as its population was widespread throughout the state. Since that time their habitat has been reduced to the Blue Hills south of Boston, The Berkshires in Western Massachusetts as well as parts of the Connecticut River Valley.[20] The snake is so rare in the state that it is rarely encountered by people and is considered endangered, making it illegal to harass, kill, collect, or possess.[21]

Habitat

Generally, this species is found in deciduous forests in rugged terrain. During the summer, gravid (pregnant) females seem to prefer open, rocky ledges where the temperatures are higher, while males and nongravid females tend to spend more time in cooler, denser woodland with more closed forest canopy.[22]

Female timber rattlers often bask in the sun before giving birth, in open rocky areas known as "basking knolls".[23]

During the winter, timber rattlesnakes brumate in dens, in limestone crevices, often together with copperheads and black rat snakes.[16]

Feeding

Their prey are mainly small mammals, but may include small birds, frogs, mice, other small animals, or other snakes. Although capable of consuming other rattlesnakes, the most common snakes they eat are garter snakes.[22] Like most rattlesnakes, timber rattlesnakes are known to utilize chemical cues to find sites to ambush their prey and will often strike their prey and track them until they can be consumed.[24][25] Timber rattlesnakes are known to use fallen logs as a waiting site for prey to pass by, giving them an elevated perch from which to effectively strike their prey, which is almost entirely terrestrial rather than arboreal (even arboreal prey such as squirrels tends to be caught when they come to the ground).[26][27] The primary foods by genera of timber rattlesnakes were as follows: Peromyscus (33.3%), Microtus (10.9%), Tamias (qv) (10.6%), Sylvilagus (10.4%), Sigmodon (5.3%) and Sciurus (4.2%). Based on examination of the snout-to-vent length, it was found that juvenile timber rattlesnakes differed slightly in dietary preferences from adult rattlesnakes, being more likely to consume smaller prey such as shrews (averaging 8 g (0.28 oz) and unable to attack subadult eastern cottontail rabbits (averaging 500–1,000 g (1.1–2.2 lb) but Peromyscus was the number one prey item for both young and adult rattlesnakes. Several birds, although always secondary to mammals, are also known to be hunted, mainly ground-dwelling species such as bobwhites, but also a surprising number of passerines.[28]

Venom

Potentially, this is one of North America's most dangerous snakes, due to its long fangs, impressive size, and high venom yield. This is to some degree offset by its relatively mild disposition[29] and long brumation period. Before striking, they often perform a good deal of preliminary rattling and feinting.[30] Cist (1845) described how he lived in western Pennsylvania for many years, and the species was quite common there, but in all that time, he heard of only a single death resulting from its bite.[3]

Considerable geographic and ontogenetic variation occurs regarding the toxicity of the venom, which can be said for many rattlesnake species. Four venom patterns have been described for this species: Type A is largely neurotoxic, and is found in various parts of the southern range. One effect of the toxin can be generalized myokymia.[31] Type B is hemorrhagic and proteolytic, and is found consistently in the north and in parts of the southeast. Type A + B is found in areas where the aforementioned types apparently intergrade in southwestern Arkansas and northern Louisiana. Type C venom has none of the above components and is relatively weak.[29]

The neurotoxic component of the type A venom is referred to as canebrake toxin, and is a phospholipase A2. It is analogous to the neurotoxins found in the venoms of several other rattlesnake species, and when present, contributes significantly to the overall toxicity. Other components found in the venom include a small basic peptide that works as a myotoxin, a fibrinogen-clotting enzyme that can produce defibrination syndrome, and a bradykinin-releasing enzyme.[29]

CroFab antivenom, while not specific for C. horridus, is used to treat envenomations from this species.[32]

Gallery

Symbol

The timber rattlesnake was designated the state reptile of West Virginia in 2008.[33] That state's legislature praised "...a proud contribution by the eighth grade class at Romney Middle School, from West Virginia's oldest county, in West Virginia's oldest town, to have been instrumental in making the timber rattlesnake the state reptile..."[34]

This snake became a prominent symbol during the American Revolution in part because it had a fearsome reputation. The use of the timber rattlesnake as a symbol of American anger and resolve to defend itself was no idle threat. During the period of 1763–1787, medical knowledge was not up to the challenge of treating a timber rattlesnake's bite. First, at the time, European standards of medical practice were based on the ideas and concepts of Galen, in which disease was caused by imbalances in the body; this was the standard to which all doctors practicing medicine in the colonies were trained.[35] Because of the then poorly understood effects on the nervous or hematological system of this species' venom, a physician would prescribe a course of action that wound up killing the patient faster (bleeding with leeches) or prescribing herbs without testing of their efficacy as a cure beyond imitation of Native American practices[36] Secondly, Linnaeus only described and identified this snake in 1758; firsthand experience with timber rattlesnakes among London scientists would have been poor, the flora and fauna of the colonies would have been disdained as savage by thinking circles,[37] and published information on its habits would have been thin, allowing for hearsay and superstition to grow on both sides of the Atlantic.

The motto Nemo me impune lacesset (with the verb in the future tense) appears above a Crotalus horridus on a 1778 $20 bill from Georgia as an early example of the colonial use of the coiled rattlesnake symbol, which later became famous on the Gadsden flag.

Taxonomy

The subspecies C. h. atricaudatus (Latreille in Sonnini and Latreille, 1802), often referred to as the canebrake rattlesnake,[3] is currently considered invalid.[38] Previously, it was recognized by Gloyd (1936) and Klauber (1936). Based on an analysis of geographic variation, Pisani et al. (1972) concluded no subspecies should be recognized. This was rejected by Conant (1975), but followed by Collins and Knight (1980). Brown and Ernst (1986) found evidence for retaining the two subspecies, but state it is not possible to tell them apart without having more information than usual, including adult size, color pattern, the number of dorsal scale rows and the number of ventral scales. Dundee and Rossman (1989) recognized C. h. atricaudatus, but others take a more neutral point of view.[12]

Conservation status

This species is classified as least concern on the IUCN Red List (assessed in 2007).[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.[39]

The timber rattlesnake is listed as endangered in New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts[40] (along with the copperhead viper), Virginia, New Hampshire, Indiana,[41] and Ohio, and it is threatened in New York, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota, and Texas.

Timber Rattlesnakes have already gone extinct in Maine and Rhode Island and only one population remains in New Hampshire. They are protected in many of the Appalachian states but their populations continue to decline.[42]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Hammerson, G.A. (2007). Crotalus horridus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2.
  2. 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. 1 2 3 Wright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Comstock Publishing Associates. Ithaca and London. (7th printing, 1985). ISBN 0-8014-0463-0. (Crotalus horridus, pp. 956–966.)
  4. 1 2 3 Conant R. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Second Edition. First published in 1958. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston. ISBN 0-395-19979-4. (Crotalus horridus, pp. 233–235 + Plate 35 + Map 178.)
  5. ↑ Brown, W. S. (1991). Female reproductive ecology in a northern population of the timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus. Herpetologica, 101-115.
  6. ↑ "Crotalus horridus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 8 February 2007.
  7. ↑ Galligan, J. H., & Dunson, W. A. (1979). Biology and status of timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) populations in Pennsylvania. Biological Conservation, 15(1), 13-58.
  8. ↑ Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus). Tpwd.state.tx.us. Retrieved on 2013-01-05.
  9. ↑ Fitch, H. S., Pisani, G. R., & Greene, H. W. (2004). A FIELD STUDY OF THE TIMBER RATTLESNAKE lN LEAVENWORTH COUNTY, KANSAS. Journal of Kansas Herpetology Number, 1, 18.
  10. ↑ Brown, W. S., Kéry, M., & Hines, J. E. (2007). Survival of timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) estimated by capture-recapture models in relation to age, sex, color morph, time, and birthplace. Copeia, 2007(3), 656-671.
  11. ↑ Clark, R. W. (2006). Fixed videography to study predation behavior of an ambush foraging snake, Crotalus horridus. Copeia, 2006(2), 181-187.
  12. 1 2 3 Campbell JA & Lamar WW (2004). The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere (2 volumes). Comstock Publishing Associates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2.
  13. ↑ ANIMAL BYTES – Canebrake Rattlesnake. Seaworld.org. Retrieved on 2013-01-05.
  14. ↑ Behler JL & King FW (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp. ISBN 0-394-50824-6. (Crotalus horridus, pp. 688-689 + Plates 619, 620, 653.)
  15. ↑ Boulenger, G.A.. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III., Containing the...Viperidæ. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, Printers.) London. xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I.- XXV. (Crotalus horridus, pp. 578–580.)
  16. 1 2 Schmidt, K.P., and D.D. Davis. 1941. Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. G.P. Putnam's Sons. New York. 365 pp. (Crotalus horridus horridus, pp. 301-302 + Plate 33; Crotalus horridus atricaudatus, p. 302.)
  17. ↑ Conant, Roger & Collins, Joseph T. (1998). Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern/Central North America. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-90452-8
  18. ↑ Crotalus horridus at Species at Risk Public Registry. Accessed 23 June 2008.
  19. ↑ http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dfg/nhesp/species-and-conservation/nhfacts/crotalus-horridus.pdf
  20. ↑ http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dfg/nhesp/species-and-conservation/nhfacts/crotalus-horridus.pdf
  21. ↑ http://www.masnakes.org/snakes/timber_rattle/
  22. 1 2 Timber Rattlesnake Fact Sheet at NY State Dept. of Environmental Conservation. Accessed 8 February 2007.
  23. ↑ Furman, Jon (2007). Timber rattlesnakes in Vermont and New York: biology, history, and the fate of an endangered species. UPNE. p. 133. ISBN 978-1-58465-656-2.
  24. ↑ Clark, R. W. (2004). Timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) use chemical cues to select ambush sites. Journal of chemical ecology, 30(3), 607-617.
  25. ↑ Reinert, H. K., Cundall, D., & Bushar, L. M. (1984). Foraging behavior of the timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus. Copeia, 976-981.
  26. ↑ Reinert, H. K., Cundall, D., & Bushar, L. M. (1984). Foraging behavior of the timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus. Copeia, 976-981.
  27. ↑ Platt, S. G., Hawkes, A. W., & Rainwater, T. R. (2001). Diet of the canebrake rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus atricaudatus): An additional record and review. Texas Journal of Science, 53(2), 115-120.
  28. ↑ Clark, R. W. (2002). Diet of the timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus. Journal of Herpetology, 36(3), 494-499.
  29. 1 2 3 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.
  30. ↑ U.S. Navy. 1991. Poisonous Snakes of the World. US Govt. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. ISBN 0-486-26629-X.
  31. ↑ "Snake Venoms and the Neuromuscular Junction: Spontaneous Activity". Medscape.com. 2004-08-16. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
  32. ↑ "MAVIN 2013-05-14, Crotalus horridus horridus". Toxinfo.org. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
  33. ↑ "Senate concurrent resolution 28 (bill status 2008 regular session)". West Virginia Legislature. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  34. ↑ "Senate concurrent resolution no. 28". 1st session of the 80th legislature. West Virginia Legislature. 2008. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  35. ↑ http://www.history1700s.com/articles/article1016.shtml[]
  36. ↑ "Virginia Snakeroot". Herbs2000.com. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
  37. ↑ Bryson, Bill. 2004. A Short History of Nearly Everything. New York: Broadway Books. p. 81.
  38. ↑ "Crotalus horridus atricaudatus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 27 September 2006.
  39. ↑ 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 13 September 2007.
  40. ↑ "Massachusetts List of Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Speci". Mass.gov. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
  41. ↑ Indiana Legislative Services Agency (2011), "312 IAC 9-5-4: Endangered species of reptiles and amphibians", Indiana Administrative Code, retrieved 28 Apr 2012
  42. ↑ "Timber Rattlesnake". Orianne Society. Retrieved 6 August 2015.

Further reading

  • Brown CW, Ernst CH. 1986. A study of variation in eastern timber rattlesnakes, Crotalus horridus Linnae (Serpentes, Viperidae). Brimleyana 12: 57–74.
  • Cist C. 1845. The Cincinnati Miscellany or Antiquities of the West. vol. 1. Cincinnati. 272 pp..
  • Collins JT, Knight JL. 1980. Crotalus horridus Linnaeus. Timber rattlesnake. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 253.1 – 253.2.
  • Gloyd HK. 1936. The cane-brake rattlesnake. Copeia 1935 (4): 175–178.
  • Holt EG. 1924. Additional records for the Alabama herpetological catalogue. Copeia 1924 (136): 100–101.
  • Klauber LM. 1936. Key to the rattlesnakes with summary of characteristics. Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 8 (2): 185–176.
  • Klauber LM. 1956. Rattlesnakes: Their Habitats, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind. 2 volumes. University of California Press, Berkeley. 1476 pp.
  • Linnaeus C. 1758. Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, diferentiis, synonymis, locis. 10th Edition. Hollmiæ. Stockholm. (Crotalus horridus, p. 214.)
  • Pisani GR, Collins JT, Edwards SR. 1972. A re-evaluation of the subspecies of Crotalus horridus. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci. 75: 255–263.
  • Schmidt KP. 1953. A check list of North American amphibians and reptiles. 6th ed. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Chicago. 280 pp.

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