Crotalus aquilus
| Crotalus aquilus | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Crotalus |
| Species: | C. aquilus
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| Binomial name | |
| Crotalus aquilus Klauber, 1952
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| Synonyms | |
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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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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..
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Crotalus aquilus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 9 July 2007.
- ^ 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 13 September 2007.
Further reading
[edit]- Klauber, L.M. 1952. Taxonomic studies on rattlesnakes of Mainland Mexico. Bull. Zool. Soc. San Diego 26: 1–143.