Crotalus tortugensis

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific classification
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Chordata
Class:  | Reptilia
Order:  | Squamata
Suborder:  | Serpentes
Family:  | Viperidae
Genus:  | Crotalus
Species:  |

C. tortugensis

Binomial name
Crotalus tortugensis

Van Denburgh & Slevin, 1921

Synonyms

* Crotalus tortugensis
Van Denburgh & Slevin, 1921
* Crotalus atrox tortugensis
- Stejneger & Barbour, 1933
* Crotalus tortuguensis
- Hoge & Romano-Hoge, 1971
* Crotalus atrox tortuguensis
- Hoge & Romano-Hoge, 1971
* Crotalus tortugensis
- Golay et al., 1993[2]

Common names: Tortuga Island diamond rattlesnake,[3][4] Tortuga Island rattlesnake.[5]

Crotalus tortugensis is a venomous pit viper species found only on Tortuga Island in the Gulf of California. No subspecies are currently recognized.[6]

## Contents

* 1 Description
* 2 Geographic range
* 3 Habitat
* 4 Conservation status
* 5 Behavior
* 6 Feeding
* 7 Venom
* 8 Taxonomy
* 9 See also
* 10 References
* 11 Further reading
* 12 External links

## Description

This species is smaller than its close relative, C. atrox, with large males not growing to much more than 100 cm (39 in) in length. The largest specimen on record is 105.8 centimetres (41.7 in) (Klauber, 1972). Compared to C. atrox, the head is shorter relative to the length of the body—a trait considered to be an indication of dwarfing, which is common in island populations.[3]

The color pattern consists of a gray to gray-brown ground color, occasionally with a slight purplish or pinkish hue, overlaid dorsally with a series of 32-41 dark brown to purplish-brown blotches running down the length of the body. The blotches are hexagonal or diamond-shaped, marked with black spots, and bordered with irregular black mottling.[3]

## Geographic range

Found only on Tortuga Island, Baja California Sur, in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Its type locality is "Tortuga Island".[2]

## Habitat

It lives in barren, rocky, desert terrain, sparsely covered with brush and cacti.[3]

## Conservation status

This species is classified as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The population trend was stable when assessed in 2007.[1] Species are listed as "Least Concern" 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.[7]

However, this species is threatened due to its limited range, though it is common on the island.[8]

## Behavior

Although Van Denburgh reported they would rattle vigorously when approached, they have been described as being less excitable than C. atrox, their mainland relative.[4]

## Feeding

Its diet apparently consists of mice. Several specimens from the island are reported to have contained mammal hair, and a white-footed mouse, Peromyscus dickeyi, is common on the island.[4]

## Venom

Klauber (1956) gives an average venom yield of 56 mg for this species. For comparison, the same study yielded an average of 277 mg for C. atrox.[4]

## Taxonomy

Though most recent authors consider this taxon to be distinct, it may actually be conspecific with C. atrox.[2]

## See also

* List of crotaline species and subspecies
* Crotalus by common name
* Crotalus by taxonomic synonyms
* Crotalinae by common name
* Crotalinae by taxonomic synonyms
* Snakebite

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Frost, D.R. (2007). "Crotalus tortugensis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) 2007: e.T64336A12771629. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T64336A12771629.en. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/64336/0. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Campbell JA, Lamar WW. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 870 pp. 1500 plates. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Klauber LM. 1956. Rattlesnakes: Their Habitats, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind. Second Edition, 1997. [First published in 1956, 1972.] University of California Press, Berkeley. ISBN 0-520-21056-5.
5. ↑ Crotalus tortugensis at Rattlesnakes. Accessed 23 March 2007.
6. ↑ "Crotalus tortugensis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=585830. Retrieved 23 April 2007.
7. ↑ 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 13 September 2007.
8. ↑ Crotalus tortugensis at San Diego Natural History Museum. Accessed 23 April 2007.

## Further reading

* Van Denburgh, J. and J.R. Slevin. 1921. Preliminary diagnoses of more new Species of Reptiles from Islands in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Proc. California Acad. Sci., Fourth Series, Volume 11, pp. 395–398.

## External links

* Crotalus atrox at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 12 December 2007.
* Crotalus tortugensis, incl. brief info and picture, at San Diego Natural History Museum. Accessed 23 April 2007.

Wikidata ☰ Q2445131 entry

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