Crotalus oreganus
Crotalus oreganus (commonly known as the western rattlesnake) is a species of venomous Pit viper. There are currently six subspecies recognized, not including the nominate subspecies.
| Crotalus oreganus | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Crotalus |
| Species: | C. oreganus
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| Binomial name | |
| Crotalus oreganus Holbrook, 1840
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| Synonyms | |
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Description
changeThe Western Rattlesnake is a large species of the Crotalus.They can reach to the size of 100 centimeters (39 in) in length, but the longest ever found was the size of 162.6 centimeters (64 in). They are usually dark brown, dark gray, or olive brown in color, covered with dark blotches and uneven white edges.
Feeding
changeThe Western Rattlesnake eats mainly rodents like the mouse, the rat, and the squirrel, but it also eats rabbits and small birds.
Common Names
changeSome of the Western Rattlesnakes names included the "Northern Pacific Rattlesnake", the "Black Diamond Rattlesnake", the "Arizona Diamond Rattlesnake", the "California Rattlesnake", the "Hallowell's Rattlesnake",and the "Oregon Rattlesnake".
Where they live
changeThe Western Rattlesnake is found in North America, from southwestern Canada, western U.S.A, and northern Mexico. In Canada it is found in southern British Columbia. In the U.S.A it is found in Washington, Oregon, western and southern Idaho, California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. In northern Mexico it is found in western Baja California.
Subspecies
change- Grand Canyon Rattlesnake, C. o. abyssus
- Coronado Island Rattlesnake, C. o. caliginis
- Arizona Black Rattlesnake, C. o. cerberus
- Midget Faded Rattlesnake, C. o. concolor
- Southern Pacific Rattlesnake, C. o. helleri
- Great Basin Rattlesnake, C. o. lutosus
References
change- ↑ Hammerson, G.A.; Frost, D.R. & Hollingsworth, B. (2007). "Crotalus oreganus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T64326A12769216. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T64326A12769216.en.
- ↑ 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).
- ↑ Ashton KG, de Queiroz A. 2001. Molecular systematics of the western rattlesnake, Crotalus viridis (Viperidae), with comments on the utility of the d-loop in phylogenetic studies of snakes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Vol. 21, No.2, pp. 176-189. PDF Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine at CNAH. Accessed 3 September 2008.
Other websites
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- Crotalus oreganus at the TIGR Reptile Database. Accessed 12 December 2007.