Crotalus viridis

Western Rattlesnake ( Crotalus viridis nuntius )

The Western Rattlesnake ( Crotalus viridis), and prairie rattlesnake, is a species of rattlesnakes (Crotalus ) within the vipers ( Viperidae ), which is common in the western United States to Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. Until a few years ago it was run as a kind of collaboration with the Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus ).

Features

The Western rattlesnake is a fairly large species of rattlesnakes, with an average length of about 1 meter, the current maximum length is 1.51 meters. The subspecies C. v. nuntius remains somewhat smaller than the nominate form as a rule.

Snake venom

The toxin of the Western Rattlesnake is a complexly structured mixture of different proteins ( proteins ) to find among them are enzymes such as proteases and peptidases. Besides hämotoxischer and tissue destructive effect the poison is neurotoxic properties. For this viper bites are specific Antivenine available.

Distribution and habitat

The distribution area includes the snake in the United States of America a large area of the Great Plains and extends north to Canada and south to Mexico. In Canada it is found in the southern areas of Saskatchewan and Alberta. In the U.S., the distribution area includes parts of the states of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and the extreme southern Arizona. In Mexico, there is the serpent in northern Coahuila and northwestern Chihuahua.

System

The taxonomic discussion of the Western Rattlesnake is currently in flux until a few years ago it was common with the Pacific rattlesnake (C. oreganus ) out as a sort. On the basis of studies based on molecular biology by Ashton and de Queiroz 2001 and Pook et al. 2000, the two taxa were separated as species, with most of the subspecies of the Pacific rattlesnake has been assigned.

In the Western Rattlesnake, only two subspecies are currently distinguished:

• C. v. nuntius Klauber 1935 in northeastern Arizona
• C. v. viridis Rafinesque 1818 throughout the range of