Crotalus triseriatus is a rattlesnake commonly known as the Mexican Dusky Rattlesnake, Transvolcanic Rattlesnake, Sierra Madre Dusky Rattlesnake, or Transvolcanic Rattlesnake.
It is an endemic snake to Mexico, has terrestrial habits and is found distributed in the highlands of the Transversal Volcanic Mountain Range from Veracruz to the west through parts of Puebla, Tlaxcala, State of Mexico, Morelos, to the extreme north of Guerrero, and to the western Michoacán and Jalisco.
This species of rattlesnake inhabits a wide range of environments such as coniferous forests (pines), mesophilic forest, xerophytic thickets, low deciduous forest, and is found between altitudes between 2,500 and 4,572 meters above sea level. However, its habitat may be threatened by changes in the soil where it is distributed, in addition to the endangered pine forests..
The Mexican Dusky Rattlesnake is a species of small squamata, in which the largest individual recorded so far was 68.3 cm long. Shows a dorsal coloration pattern in a semicircular shape with spots.
It is a viviparous species, and with very varied eating habits; it can consume mammals, arthropods and amphibians, among others. It is considered as a good biological controller to regulate the populations of other animal species. Like other rattlesnakes, its bite should be treated with medical attention for its care and recovery..
Article index
The Mexican dark rattlesnake is a species just over half a meter long. It has a semicircular color pattern of spots in the dorsal area.
In the internal-prefrontal part it has four scales. The rattlesnake, for its part, shows eight scales at the base.
Large adult males are over 0.6 m long, while female individuals are slightly smaller..
The coloration of the background is darker on the lateral part, while it is paler in the middle of the 30 and 57 dark brown spots in the middle of the back..
These spots are 3 to 5 scales wide, more or less round or sub-elliptical, with a pale irregular border..
Regarding the ocular area, they have a dark brown postocular stripe, they also have paired nuchal spots of that same color. The ventral area of this snake is pinkish in color with brown to black speckles, which are more concentrated on the lateral margins..
Regarding the eyes, the color of the iris can vary, however, in the upper part it is paler than the lower part. They have a segment close to the skull that is reddish, dark brown or gray.
Also, there are some synonyms for this snake such as:
The Mexican dark rattlesnake is of terrestrial habits. It inhabits coniferous forests, mountain mesophilic forests, pine-oak forests, also in mesquite and grasslands. It is distributed in an altitudinal range between 2,500 and 4,572 meters above sea level..
Crotalus triseriatus It is an endemic species of Mexico, and it is distributed in the Federal District, as well as in the states of Michoacán, México, Hidalgo, Puebla, Tlaxcala and Veracruz..
In general, it is distributed along the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. This area is the most important in the country, considering the number of endemic reptile species.
On the other hand, the genetic diversity that has been found in the population of this snake is of a high heterozygosity and a moderate allelic diversity; but the heterozygosity is greater than in most species of Crotalus.
In this sense, the heterozygosity of this species may be due to a highly effective population size, multiple paternity and overlapping generations..
In this regard, it is important to preserve the habitat in which this species is found. For example, the Abies-Pinus forest is in danger of extinction in the Nevado del Volcán de Toluca, which changed its protection status, and possibly will have a change in land use that could affect the population of Crotalus triseriatus.
Some other threats can affect this species such as hunting, poisoning and trapping. In addition, due to agricultural and livestock activities and forest fires.
On the other hand, some plant foods they consume may be impregnated with biocides, pesticides and fertilizers that can cause disorders, making these snakes weak and susceptible to attack by infectious or metabolic diseases..
The data on Crotalus triseriatus indicate that it is a viviparous species. They produce between 3 and 10 young that can be born during the spring and measure 18 cm on average, weighing 5.4 g.
The bites of this snake are considered not very dangerous for humans, since the venom yield is low. However, each snake bite must be classified as a serious fact, and it is always necessary to go to the doctor to treat the bite and the venom..
Being a kind of terrestrial habits, it develops its activities during the morning or at sunset. Although it can sometimes be seen sunning itself on logs or rocks in the morning hours.
As for the feeding of this species of snake, it has been observed that it has a very diverse diet. Among the eating habits of the Mexican dark rattlesnake, the consumption of prey that comes from mammals, four lizards and one salamander has been determined..
Within the species that are part of the varied diet of Crotalus triseriatus mammals such as: Microtus mexicanus, Neotomodon alstoni, Peromyscus spp. (two species), Sylvilagus floridanus, and four more species of rodents.
In addition, they can consume other reptiles such as lizards Sceloporus bicantalis, Sceloporus grammicus, Sceloporus scalaris, and Sceloporus torquatus. This snake can consume amphibians such as salamanders of the genus Pseudoeurycea, and a kind of frog. It can also consume arthropods such as beetles, crickets, Mormon crickets, and centipedes..
Yet No Comments