Crotalus mitchellii
Speckled Rattlesnake ( Crotalus mitchellii )
The Speckled Rattlesnake ( Crotalus mitchellii ) is a species of rattlesnakes (Crotalus ), and the number of islands in the Gulf of California is to be found in Southern California and Nevada as well as on the entire Baja California ( Mexico).
Features
The spotted rattlesnake is a fairly large rattlesnake with an average body length of about one meter. Here are the representatives of the subspecies C. m. angelensis with an average length of 1.30 meters, a little longer, the representatives of C. m. muertensis with an average of 0.70 meters, slightly smaller than the other individuals.
In its body coloration varies the nature relatively strong. The typical basic color is light gray to yellowish- gray, also individual with a cream-colored, yellow, orange yellow, pink or light brown base coloration occur. The color pattern consists of spots in the front body section, which gradually move on to the tail in the transverse beams and are mostly dark gray; these, however, are very different colors and can accept the entire color spectrum of colors. Moreover, they are often only vaguely recognizable and in some individuals hardly noticeable.
Distribution and habitat
The distribution of spotted rattlesnake ranges from southern California, southern Nevada and western Arizona to Baja California ( Mexico), which is almost fully colonized. In addition, some islands in the Gulf of California and the Pacific Islands Magdalena and Santa Margarita are colonized by it.
The habitat of the snake is dominated by rocky desert areas with cacti and other succulents as the dominant vegetation.
Snake venom
In effect, as well as the amount of venom the venom of the rattlesnake spotted vary, sometimes significantly; in general, it mainly leads to local tissue destruction and pain, which follows a general nausea.
System
Currently five subspecies of spotted rattlesnake can be distinguished:
- C. m. angelensis endemic to the island of Angel de la Guarda in the Gulf of California
- C. m. mitchellii in the southern half of the Baja California
- C. m. muertensis endemic to the island of El Muerto in the Gulf of California
- C. m. pyrrhus in the northern half of the Baja California, in Southern California and Western Arizona
- C. m. stephensi in southern Nevada and parts of Southern California.
C. m. stephensi was distinguished from the other subspecies because molecular biological data as a separate species called Panamint Rattlesnake (C. stephensi ) 2007.