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Crotalus aquilus

Crotalus aquilus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Crotalus
Species:
C. aquilus
Binomial name
Crotalus aquilus
Klauber, 1952
Synonyms
  • Crotalus triseriatus aquilus
    Klauber, 1952
  • Crotalus triseriatus quadrangularis Harris & Simmons, 1978
  • C[rotalus]. aquilus – Dorcas, 1992
  • Crotalus aquilus – Liner, 1994
  • Crotalus aquilus
    – McDiarmid et al., 1999

Crotalus aquilus, known as the Querétaro dusky rattlesnake[2] or Queretaran dusky rattlesnake,[3] is a pit viper species found in the highlands of central Mexico. Like all other pit vipers, it is venomous. No subspecies are currently recognized.[4] The specific name, aquilus, is Latin for "eagle" and refers to the high altitude at which this species is found.

Description

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This species grows to a maximum reported total length of 67.8 cm (26.7 in), but most adult specimens, which have been described as heavy-bodied, are less than 50 cm (20 in) long.[2]

Geographic range

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They are found in the highlands of central Mexico in Guanajuato, Hidalgo, México, Michoacán, and San Luis Potosí. The type locality given is "near Alvarez, San Luis Potosí, Mexico".

Habitat

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These snakes are found in the open grassy and generally rocky habitats north of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. They also occur in pine-oak forest, open karstic areas, grassy mountain meadows, and stony mesquite-grassland.[2]

Conservation status

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This species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (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.[5]

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Crotalus aquilus.
  1. ^ a b Mendoza-Quijano, F.; Quintero Díaz, G. (2007). "Crotalus aquilus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T64310A12763161. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T64310A12763161.en. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Campbell, J.A.; Lamar W.W. (2004). The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. pp. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2..
  3. ^ Klauber, L.M. (1997). Rattlesnakes: Their Habitats, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind. Second Edition. First published in 1956, 1972. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-520-21056-5.
  4. ^ "Crotalus aquilus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 9 July 2007.
  5. ^ 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 13 September 2007.

Further reading

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