Marshall University Marshall Digital Scholar Theses, Dissertations and Capstones 1-1-2010 Growth and Age at Reproductive Maturity of the Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus m. miliarius (Reptilia: Serpentes) Kevin Robert Messenger
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://mds.marshall.edu/etd Part of the Other Animal Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Messenger, Kevin Robert, "Growth and Age at Reproductive Maturity of the Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus m. miliarius (Reptilia: Serpentes)" (2010). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. Paper 106. This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Marshall Digital Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses, Dissertations and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Marshall Digital Scholar. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Growth and Age at Reproductive Maturity of the Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus m. miliarius (Reptilia: Serpentes) Thesis submitted to the Graduate College of Marshall University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Biological Sciences by Kevin Robert Messenger Dr. Thomas K. Pauley, Committee Chair Dr. Jayme L. Waldron, Committee Member Dr. Dan K. Evans, Committee Member Marshall University December 2010 ABSTRACT Growth and Age at Reproductive Maturity of the Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus m. miliarius (Reptilia: Serpentes) Kevin Robert Messenger Growth and age at reproductive maturity are life history attributes that play an important role in the development of proper management strategies. The Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake, Sistrurus m. miliarius, is one of two dwarf rattlesnake species. The subspecies ranges from eastern NC to nearly the southern tip of SC and into the northeastern portion of GA.