Sinaloan long-tailed rattlesnake
Western Mexico: eastern Sinaloa, western Durango, and probably northern Nayarit (McDiarmid et al., 1999).
Tropical deciduous forests, subtropical dry forests, and pine-oak forests between 500 and 1200 m elevation (McDiarmid et al., 1999).
Holotype: USNM 46586; given as 46486 in the original description (McDiarmid et al., 1999).
Type-locality: "Plumosas (Plomosas) Sinaloa, Mexico." (McDiarmid et al., 1999).
Crotalus stejnegeri, commonly known as the Sinaloan long-tailed rattlesnake or just long-tailed rattlesnake,[3][4] is a venomous pit viper species in the family Viperidae. The species is native to western Mexico. There are no recognized subspecies.[5]
The specific name, stejnegeri, is in honor of Leonhard Stejneger, herpetologist at the Smithsonian Institution for over 60 years.[6][7]
Adults of C. stejnegeri do not usually grow to more than 60 cm (24 in) in total length (including tail). The greatest total length recorded for a specimen is 72.4 cm (28.5 in).[8] The tail is relatively long, representing 11.0-14.8% of the total length of adult male snakes and 9.8-12.5% in females. Klauber (1940) suggested that since the rattle is tiny, it is probably not audible. A very rare species, there have only been 12 specimens found.[3]
C. stejnegeri is found in western Mexico in the mountains and foothills of eastern Sinaloa, western Durango, and small areas in northern Nayarit, between 500 and 1,200 metres (1,600 and 3,900 ft) in altitude. The type locality given is "Plumosas [Plomosas], Sinaloa, Mexico".[2] It occurs in pine-oak forest, subtropical dry forest, and tropical deciduous forest.[2]
C. stejnegeri is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with the following criteria: B1ab(iii) (v3.1, 2001).[1] A species is listed as such when the best available evidence indicates its extent of occurrence is estimated to be less than 20,000 km2 (7,720 mi2), estimates indicate it is severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than 10 locations, and a continuing decline has been observed, inferred, or projected in its area, extent, and/or quality of habitat. Therefore, it is considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. The population trend was down when assessed in 2007.[9]
Crotalus stejnegeri, commonly known as the Sinaloan long-tailed rattlesnake or just long-tailed rattlesnake, is a venomous pit viper species in the family Viperidae. The species is native to western Mexico. There are no recognized subspecies.
