DOCSLIB.ORG

(Crotalus Cerastes) in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
(Crotalus Cerastes) in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona Herpetology Notes, volume 12: 453-455 (2019) (published online on 01 May 2019) Density, recapture probability, biomass, productivity, and population structure of Sidewinders (Crotalus cerastes) in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona Daniel J. Leavitt1,* and Ashley A. Grimsley2 In the Sonoran Desert of the American Southwest, of Yuma (32.4502°N, 114.5770°E) and the other on Crotalus cerastes Hallowell, 1854 occupies an the Barry M. Goldwater Range (BMGR; 32.4740°N, important role as a predator. Known as the sidewinder, 114.4653°E). Surveys were conducted on two five-day this psammophilous snake moves across the sand in sessions (with two days off between sessions) resulting a sinusoidal fashion (Secor et al., 1992). It is a well- in ten “capture occasions” (i.e., survey visits) per plot. camouflaged sit-and-wait predator and one of the A capture occasion was defined as the completion of smallest desert viperids in North America (Campbell one entire plot search, conducted by five to seven and Lamar, 2004). The species feeds primarily on surveyors with teams of two to four observers covering lizards and less frequently on small mammals, birds, 4.5 ha (half the 9-ha survey plot). Surveyors searched and other snakes (Webber et al., 2016). When describing the plot on foot by spacing observers 18–25 m apart and the species from the Mojave Desert in California, walking in a serpentine fashion along transects for the Hallowell (1854) remarked that it “occurs in large length of the plot. numbers” and “is also seen in the Desert of Colorado, When encountered, snakes were captured by gently but is much less abundant”. Density estimates in the restraining them with snake tongs and employing an Kelso Dunes in the Mojave Desert ranged between 0.29 acrylic tube (Midwest Tongs, Greenwood, Missouri, and 0.71 snakes per hectare (Brown, 1970; Brown and USA). The snout–vent length (SVL) was measured on Lillywhite, 1992). Greene (1997) reported “estimates of each specimen using a measuring tape (Keson, Aurora, individuals per hectare are < 1”, presumably referring Illinois, USA) and specimens were weighed using a to the Mojave Desert. During the summer of 2015, we spring scale (Pesola, Schindellegi, Switzerland). All C. had an opportunity to conduct intensive sampling on C. cerastes captured for the first time were marked with cerastes in the Sonoran Desert of Yuma County, Arizona, a unique number on the side of their body using black USA. The objective of this work was to gather baseline indelible ink markers for rapid visual identification demographic data on C. cerastes. Specifically, we were in the event of repeated detections during the same interested in estimating density, recapture probability, season. Markings allowed us to know if the snake had and biomass, as well as insights into population structure already been tagged, thereby avoiding additional stress of this snake species in the Sonoran Desert. to the snake. All C. cerastes of sizes > 180 mm were From 17–28 August 2015 and 14–25 September 2015 PIT-tagged with HPT 8 tags using disposable MK 165 we surveyed two rectangular 9-hectare (ha) plots 12 implanters (Biomark, Boise, Idaho, USA). Sex was km apart in Yuma County, Arizona. One of these was determined by inserting a small probe (Midwest Tongs, located on Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) lands south Greenwood, Missouri, USA) into the cloacal opening to detect hemipenial pockets (in males) or anal scent glands (in females) by observing the depth to which the probe could be inserted. Age was determined as either young-of-year or adult based on SVL (Reiserer, 2001). 1 Resources Management and Planning Branch, Naval Air To investigate the population dynamics of C. cerastes, Weapons Station, China Lake, California 93555, USA. 2 Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 West Carefree we summarized data for each plot separately, as well as Highway, Phoenix, Arizona 85086, USA. for both plots combined. We estimated density by two * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] means; one included a direct calculation, dividing the 454 Daniel J. Leavitt & Ashley A. Grimsley number of snakes per number of hectares of the plot with 20 and 21 juveniles captured at BMGR and BOR, for adults and juveniles. We also conducted a closed- respectively. Fewer recaptures occurred at BMGR (n = capture Huggins model in Program MARK (White and 3) than at BOR (n = 6). Adult SVL averaged 510.6 mm Burnham, 1999) to estimate adult density and capture/ with a range of 431–647 mm, and females (mean SVL recapture probabilities. We built a set of models that 526.0 mm) were larger than males (mean SVL 487.5 examined different sources of heterogeneity including mm). Juvenile SVL averaged 211.6 mm with a range of temporal, behavioural, and individual heterogeneity 175–275 mm. Adult mass averaged 185.0 g and females to evaluate these populations (Otis et al., 1978). To were on average slightly heavier (193.1 g) than males determine which of these models was the best fit, (172.1 g). Juvenile mass averaged 7.0 g. Analysed by we compared AICc values (Burnham and Anderson, study plot, the observed biomass of snakes was slightly 2003). To estimate the biomass of C. cerastes, we first higher at BMGR (2.03 kg) than at BOR (1.96 kg). With aggregated adult and juvenile snake mass data per plot corrections for area this equals 0.22 kg/ha and 0.23 kg/ after removing recaptured individuals. We calculated ha for BOR and BMGR, respectively. average values for adult and juvenile snakes and then The model that best explained adult population multiplied the density estimates per age group to the densities and had the lowest AICc value accounted for average biomass estimates for each group. To estimate differences between plots and suggested differences in productivity, we compared total number of juvenile C. behaviour after initial capture (Table 1). The model that cerastes by plot. Population structure was described best explained juvenile density indicated differences by evaluating the number of adults to juveniles and by in initial capture and recapture probabilities but no examining the range in SVL for individuals. differences between populations (Table 1). Adult We marked 61 C. cerastes (20 adults, 41 juveniles) and population estimates (± standard error) for the 9-ha plots recaptured nine adults and six juveniles during the course were 11.76 ± 1.76 (BMGR) and 17.93 ± 12.58 (BOR) of the study. Ten adult snakes were found at each plot, and juvenile estimates were 70.90 ± 27.48 and 74.47 ± Table 1. Different models of demographic parameters used to estimate Crotalus cerastes adult (A) and juvenile (B) density at two locationsTable in the 1. DifferentSonoran modelsDesert, of Yuma demographic County, parameters Arizona, 2015. used to Acronyms estimate Crotalus for parameters: cerastes adultsite (s), (A) behaviour and juvenile (b), (B) time (t), and constant (.).density at two locations in the Sonoran Desert, Yuma County, Arizona, 2015. Acronyms for parameters: site (s), behaviour (b), time (t), and constant (.). (A) Model AICc ∆ AICc AICc Model Number of Deviance Weight Likelihood Parameters s (b) 121.54 0.00 0.60 1.00 3 99.51 s (.) 123.72 2.18 0.20 0.34 2 103.75 (b) 124.74 3.20 0.12 0.20 2 104.77 (.) 125.50 3.97 0.08 0.14 1 107.57 s (t*b) 135.48 13.94 < 0.01 < 0.01 16 84.75 (t*b) 137.49 15.95 < 0.01 < 0.01 11 98.25 (t) 138.95 17.41 < 0.01 < 0.01 10 101.93 s (t) 144.72 23.18 < 0.01 < 0.01 19 86.81 (B) Model AICc ∆ AICc AICc Model Number of Deviance Weight Likelihood Parameters (.) 81.79 0.00 0.46 1.00 3 57.56 (b) 83.34 1.55 0.21 0.46 4 57.07 s (.) 83.83 2.04 0.17 0.36 4 57.55 (t*b) 84.42 2.63 0.12 0.27 11 43.58 s (b) 87.45 5.66 0.03 0.06 6 57.07 s (t*b) 91.20 9.41 < 0.01 < 0.01 21 28.65 (t) 92.56 10.77 < 0.01 < 0.01 12 49.60 s (t) 95.47 13.67 < 0.01 < 0.01 20 35.13 Population aspects of Sidewinders in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona 455 28.69 for the two plots, respectively, probably due to the References higher number of recaptures at BOR. Density estimates Brown, T.W. (1970): Autecology of the sidewinder (Crotalus for adults were 1.31/ha (BMGR) and 1.99/ha (BOR) and cerastes) at Kelso Dunes, Mojave Desert, California. Unpublished juvenile densities were estimated at 7.88/ha and 8.27/ha PhD Thesis, University of California, Los Angeles, USA. for BMGR and BOR, respectively. These data suggest Brown, T.W., Lillywhite, H.B. (1992): Autecology of the Mojave adult to juvenile ratios of 1:6 and 1:4 in the two plots, Desert Sidewinder, Crotalus cerastes cerastes at Kelso Dunes, respectively. Detection probabilities decreased between Mojave Desert, CA. In: Biology of the Pitvipers, p. 279–308. Campbell, J.A., Brodie, E.D., Eds., Tyler, Texas, USA, Selva. initial capture (BMGR: 0.21 ± 0.9; BOR: 0.09 ± 0.09) Burnham, K.P., Anderson, D.R. (2003). Model selection and and recapture (BMGR: 0.01 ± 0.01; BOR: 0.05 ± 0.03) multimodel inference: a practical information-theoretic for adult snakes, whereas juvenile capture probability approach. Springer Science and Business Media. was constant (0.03 ± 0.01). Campbell, J.A., Lamar, W.W. (2004): The Venomous Reptiles of Density estimates found in our plots in the Sonoran the Western Hemisphere.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • What You Should Know About Rattlesnakes
    Rattlesnakes in The Rattlesnakes of Snake Bite: First Aid WHAT San Diego County Parks San Diego County The primary purpose of the rattlesnake’s venomous bite is to assist the reptile in securing The Rattlesnake is an important natural • Colorado Desert Sidewinder its prey. After using its specialized senses to find YOU SHOULD element in the population control of small (Crotalus cerastes laterorepens) its next meal, the rattlesnake injects its victim mammals. Nearly all of its diet consists of Found only in the desert, the sidewinder prefers with a fatal dose of venom. animals such as mice and rats. Because they are sandy flats and washes. Its colors are those of KNOW ABOUT so beneficial, rattlesnakes are fully protected the desert; a cream or light brown ground color, To prevent being bitten, the best advice is to leave within county parks. with a row of brown blotches down the middle snakes alone. RATTLESNAKES If you encounter a rattlesnake while hiking, of the back. A hornlike projection over each eye Most bites occur when consider yourself lucky to have seen one of separates this rattlesnake from the others in our area. Length: 7 inches to 2.5 feet. someone is nature’s most interesting animals. If you see a trying to pick rattlesnake at a campsite or picnic area, please up a snake, inform the park rangers. They will do their best • Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchelli pyrrhus) tease it, or kill to relocate the snake. it. If snakes are Most often found in rocky foothill areas along the provided an coast or in the desert.
    [Show full text]
  • Medically Important Differences in Snake Venom Composition Are Dictated by Distinct Postgenomic Mechanisms
    Medically important differences in snake venom composition are dictated by distinct postgenomic mechanisms Nicholas R. Casewella,b,1, Simon C. Wagstaffc, Wolfgang Wüsterb, Darren A. N. Cooka, Fiona M. S. Boltona, Sarah I. Kinga, Davinia Plad, Libia Sanzd, Juan J. Calveted, and Robert A. Harrisona aAlistair Reid Venom Research Unit and cBioinformatics Unit, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; bMolecular Ecology and Evolution Group, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, United Kingdom; and dInstituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 11 46010 Valencia, Spain Edited by David B. Wake, University of California, Berkeley, CA, and approved May 14, 2014 (received for review March 27, 2014) Variation in venom composition is a ubiquitous phenomenon in few (approximately 5–10) multilocus gene families, with each snakes and occurs both interspecifically and intraspecifically. family capable of producing related isoforms generated by Venom variation can have severe outcomes for snakebite victims gene duplication events occurring over evolutionary time (1, 14, by rendering the specific antibodies found in antivenoms in- 15). The birth and death model of gene evolution (16) is fre- effective against heterologous toxins found in different venoms. quently invoked as the mechanism giving rise to venom gene The rapid evolutionary expansion of different toxin-encoding paralogs, with evidence that natural selection acting on surface gene families in different snake lineages is widely perceived as the exposed residues of the resulting gene duplicates facilitates main cause of venom variation. However, this view is simplistic subfunctionalization/neofunctionalization of the encoded proteins and disregards the understudied influence that processes acting (15, 17–19).
    [Show full text]
  • Amphibians and R,Eptiles of Joshua Tree Nationat Monument
    r,-. 1 $ ,35 Sidewinder AMPHIBIANS AND R,EPTILES OF JOSHUA TREE NATIONAT MONUMENT Text by lerry Moore Drawings by Yic Koch Desert Tortoise ,OSHUA TREE NATIONAL MONUMENT )oshua Tree National Monument is one of the areas administered by the National Park Service, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Monument was established to preserve the richness and variety of the resources of this des- Chuckwdlla ert area. Preservation extends to all natural, archaeological and historic obiects, so that vis' itors today and for generations to come may enioy this desert in its natural state. Published by the Produced in Cooperction with the JOSHUA TREE ilATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION 1 973 a non-profit organization pledged to aid in the preservation and interpretation of the scenic and scientific features of the Monurnent. loshua Trce National Monument T wentynine P alms, Californit 92277 INTRODUCTION other geckos in lacking foot pads and having ordinarl' eyelids. Reptiles and amphibians are among the most interesting and unusual animals found in our ZEBRA-TAILED LIZARD Callisaurus draconoides (2Y2"-)Yz") is light-colored with deserts. Many superstitions and misconceptions two Iongitudinal rows of dark spots on its back have resulted from a lack of knowledge of them: that give way to dark bands on the tail; is fast, most are rarely seen because of their shy nature maneuverable, often runs on its hindlegs curling and habits. These, like all plants and animals. its tail forward to act as counterbalance; com- mon in sandy areas. are protected within foshua Tree National Mon' ument.
    [Show full text]
  • Crotalus Cerastes, the Sidewinder
    180 / Litteratura Serpentium, 1993, Vol. 13, Nr. 6 CROTALUS CERASTES, THE SIDEWINDER By: Pete Strimple, 5310 Sultana Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45238, U.S.A. Contents: Historical -Habitat- Food -Habits -Breeding- The subspecies of Crotalus cerastes - Key to the subspecies of Crotalus cerastes. * * * HISTORICAL The sidewinder is a small to intermediate sized rattlesnake found in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It was first described by Hallowell in 1854 as Crotalus cerastes. The type specimen was collected by Dr. A.L. Heerman, with the type locality being designated as 'borders of the Mojave River, and in the desert of the Mojave (California).' In 1944, Laurence Klauber described the first subspecies based on a specimen collected at the Narrows, San Diego County, California. Klauber named the subspecies Crotalus cerastes laterorepens, the Colorado Desert sidewinder. The subspecies name 'laterorepens' is quite fitting for a sidewinder, because it is latin for 'sideways creeping.' In accordance with the rules of nomenclature, this established the nominate subspecies as Crotalus cerastes cerastes Hallowell, the Mojave desert sidewinder. These remained the only two subspecies of the sidewinder until 1953, when Savage and Cliff described Crotalus cerastes cercobombus, the Sonora sidewinder. The subspecies name 'cercobombus' is actually a combination of a Greek and Latin word which mean 'buzzing tail.' HABITAT Crotalus cerastes is primarily a desert dwelling form, whose habitats include desert flatland, sand dunes, and sand hammocks topped with creosote or mesquite bushes. FOOD Sidewinders feed mainly on small mammals (kangaroo rats, mice, pocket gophers, etc.) and lizards (desert iguanas, utas, whiptails, etc.). There are also records of sidewinders eating birds, and even a case of cannibalism.
    [Show full text]
  • Agkistrodon Piscivorus)
    BearWorks MSU Graduate Theses Fall 2019 Behavioral Aspects Of Chemoreception In Juvenile Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon Piscivorus) Chelsea E. Martin Missouri State University, [email protected] As with any intellectual project, the content and views expressed in this thesis may be considered objectionable by some readers. However, this student-scholar’s work has been judged to have academic value by the student’s thesis committee members trained in the discipline. The content and views expressed in this thesis are those of the student-scholar and are not endorsed by Missouri State University, its Graduate College, or its employees. Follow this and additional works at: https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses Part of the Behavior and Ethology Commons Recommended Citation Martin, Chelsea E., "Behavioral Aspects Of Chemoreception In Juvenile Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon Piscivorus)" (2019). MSU Graduate Theses. 3466. https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/3466 This article or document was made available through BearWorks, the institutional repository of Missouri State University. The work contained in it may be protected by copyright and require permission of the copyright holder for reuse or redistribution. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BEHAVIORAL ASPECTS OF CHEMORECEPTION IN JUVENILE COTTONMOUTHS (AGKISTRODON PISCIVORUS) A Master’s Thesis Presented to The Graduate College of Missouri State University TEMPLATE In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science, Biology By Chelsea E. Martin December 2019 Copyright 2019 by Chelsea Elizabeth Martin ii BEHAVIORAL ASPECTS OF CHEMORECPTION IN JUVENILE COTTONMOUTHS (AGKISTRODON PISCIVORUS) Biology Missouri State University, December 2019 Master of Science Chelsea E. Martin ABSTRACT For snakes, chemical recognition of predators, prey, and conspecifics has important ecological consequences.
    [Show full text]
  • Experience of Snakebite Envenomation by a Desert Viper in Qatar
    Hindawi Journal of Toxicology Volume 2020, Article ID 8810741, 5 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8810741 Review Article Experience of Snakebite Envenomation by a Desert Viper in Qatar Amr Elmoheen ,1 Waleed Awad Salem ,1 Mahmoud Haddad ,1 Khalid Bashir ,1 and Stephen H. Thomas1,2,3 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar 2Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar 3Barts and "e London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK Correspondence should be addressed to Amr Elmoheen; [email protected] Received 8 June 2020; Revised 8 September 2020; Accepted 28 September 2020; Published 12 October 2020 Academic Editor: Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim Copyright © 2020 Amr Elmoheen et al. &is is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Crotaline and elapid snakebites are reported all over the world as well as in the Middle East and other countries around this region. However, data regarding snakebites and their treatment in Qatar are limited. &is review paper is going to investigate the presentation and treatment of snakebite in Qatar. A good assessment helps to decide on the management of the snakebites envenomation. Antivenom and conservative management are the mainstays of treatment for crotaline snakebite. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been suggested to do early diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue problems, such as edema and compartment syndrome, after a snakebite. &e supporting data are not sufficient regarding the efficiency of POCUS in diagnosing the extent and severity of tissue involvement and its ultimate effect on the outcome.
    [Show full text]
  • Species Assessment for the Midget Faded Rattlesnake (Crotalus Viridis Concolor)
    SPECIES ASSESSMENT FOR THE MIDGET FADED RATTLESNAKE (CROTALUS VIRIDIS CONCOLOR ) IN WYOMING prepared by 1 2 AMBER TRAVSKY AND DR. GARY P. BEAUVAIS 1 Real West Natural Resource Consulting, 1116 Albin Street, Laramie, WY 82072; (307) 742-3506 2 Director, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Dept. 3381, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071; (307) 766-3023 prepared for United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office Cheyenne, Wyoming October 2004 Travsky and Beauvais – Crotalus viridus concolor October 2004 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 2 NATURAL HISTORY ........................................................................................................................... 2 Morphological Description........................................................................................................... 3 Taxonomy and Distribution ......................................................................................................... 4 Habitat Requirements ................................................................................................................. 6 General ............................................................................................................................................6 Area Requirements..........................................................................................................................7
    [Show full text]
  • (Cerastes) VENOM
    Received: June 20, 2005 J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis. Accepted: October 27, 2005 V.12, n.3, p.400-417, 2006. Abstract published online: December 14, 2005 Original paper. Full paper published online: August 31, 2006 ISSN 1678-9199. PHARMACOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF RAT PAW EDEMA INDUCED BY Cerastes gasperettii (cerastes) VENOM AL-ASMARI A. K. (1), ABDO N. M. (1) (1) Research Center, Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. ABSTRACT: Inflammatory response induced by the venom of the Arabian sand viper Cerastes gasperettii was studied by measuring rat hind-paw edema. Cerastes gasperettii venom (CgV, 3.75-240 µg/paw), heated for 30s at 97°C, caused a marked dose and time-dependent edema in rat paw. Response was maximal 2h after venom administration and ceased within 24h. Heated CgV was routinely used in our experiments at the dose of 120 µg/paw. Among all the drugs and antivenoms tested, cyproheptadine and 5-nitroindazole were the most effective in inhibiting edema formation. Aprotinin, mepyramine, dexamethasone, diclofenac, dipyridamole, Nω- nitro-L-arginine, quinacrine, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid showed statistically (p<0.001) significant inhibitory effect, but with variations in their inhibition degree. Equine polyspecific and rabbit monospecific antivenoms significantly (p<0.001) reduced edema when locally administered (subplantar) but were ineffective when intravenously injected. We can conclude that the principal inflammatory mediators were serotonin, histamine, adenosine transport factors, phosphodiesterase (PDE), cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase and phospholipase A2 (PLA2), in addition to other prostaglandins and cytokines. KEY WORDS: inflammatory mediators, Cerastes gasperettii venom, edema, antagonist, antivenom. CORRESPONDENCE TO: ABDULRAHMAN KHAZIM AL-ASMARI. P.O.
    [Show full text]
  • Pit Vipers: from Fang to Needle—Three Critical Concepts for Clinicians
    Tuesday, July 28, 2021 Pit Vipers: From Fang to Needle—Three Critical Concepts for Clinicians Keith J. Boesen, PharmD & Nicholas B. Hurst, M.D., MS Disclosures / Potential Conflicts of Interest • Keith Boesen and Nicholas Hurst are employed by Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc. (RDT) • RDT is a U.S. company working with Laboratorios Silanes, S.A. de C.V., a company in Mexico • Laboratorios Silanes manufactures a variety of antivenoms Note: This program may contain the mention of suppliers, brands, products, services or drugs presented in a case study or comparative format using evidence-based research. Such examples are intended for educational and informational purposes and should not be perceived as an endorsement of any particular supplier, brand, product, service or drug. 2 Learning Objectives At the end of this session, participants should be able to: 1. Describe the venom variability in North American Pit Vipers 2. Evaluate the clinical symptoms associated with a North American Pit Viper envenomation 3. Develop a treatment plan for a North American Pit Viper envenomation 3 Audience Poll Question: #1 of 5 My level of expertise in treating Pit Viper Envenomation is… a. I wouldn’t know where to begin! b. I have seen a few cases… c. I know a thing or two because I’ve seen a thing or two d. I frequently treat these patients e. When it comes to Pit Viper envenomation, I am a Ssssuper Sssskilled Ssssnakebite Sssspecialist!!! 4 PIT VIPER ENVENOMATIONS PIT VIPERS Loreal Pits Movable Fangs 1. Russel 1983 -Photo provided by the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Jennifer Szymanski Usfish and Wildlife Service Endangered
    Written by: Jennifer Szymanski U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Division 1 Federal Drive Fort Snelling, Minnesota 55111 Acknowledgements: Numerous State and Federal agency personnel and interested individuals provided information regarding Sistrurus c. catenatus’status. The following individuals graciously provided critical input and numerous reviews on portions of the manuscript: Richard Seigel, Robert Hay, Richard King, Bruce Kingsbury, Glen Johnson, John Legge, Michael Oldham, Kent Prior, Mary Rabe, Andy Shiels, Doug Wynn, and Jeff Davis. Mary Mitchell and Kim Mitchell provided graphic assistance. Cover photo provided by Bruce Kingsbury Table of Contents Taxonomy....................................................................................................................... 1 Physical Description....................................................................................................... 3 Distribution & State Status............................................................................................. 3 Illinois................................................................................................................. 5 Indiana................................................................................................................ 5 Iowa.................................................................................................................... 5 Michigan............................................................................................................ 6 Minnesota..........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Mating in Free-Ranging Neotropical Rattlesnakes, Crotalus Durissus: Is It Risky for Males?
    Herpetology Notes, volume 14: 225-227 (2021) (published online on 01 February 2021) Mating in free-ranging Neotropical rattlesnakes, Crotalus durissus: Is it risky for males? Selma Maria Almeida-Santos1,*, Thiago Santos2, and Luis Miguel Lobo1 Field observations of the mating behaviour of snakes The male remained stretched out for about 20 minutes are scarce, probably because of the secretive nature and and showed no defensive posture even with the presence low encounter rates of many species (Sasa and Curtis, of the observer. We then noticed drops of blood on the 2006). In the Neotropical rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus vegetation and the hemipenis (Fig. 1 E-F). We could not Linnaeus, 1758, mating has been reported only in determine the origin of the blood, but we suggest two captive individuals (Almeida-Santos et al., 1999). Here nonexclusive hypotheses. The hemipenis spicules may we describe the first record of the mating behaviour of have hurt the female’s vagina while she was dragging the the Neotropical rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus, in nature male over a long distance. Alternatively, the male may (Fig. 1 A). have suffered an injury to the hemipenis while being Observations were made on 9 March 2017, at 14:54 h, dragged quickly by the female. The slow hemipenis a warm and sunny day (temperature = 27.1 oC; relative retraction and the male’s fatigue after copulation may humidity = 66%), in an ecotone between dry forest and better support the second hypothesis. Cerrado (Brazilian savannah) in Prudente de Morais, Potential costs for male C. durissus during mating Minas Gerais, Brazil (-19.2841 °S,-44.0628 °W; datum season include increased activity and energy expenditure WGS 84).
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus Adamanteus) Ambush Site Selection in Coastal Saltwater Marshes
    Marshall University Marshall Digital Scholar Theses, Dissertations and Capstones 2020 Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) Ambush Site Selection in Coastal Saltwater Marshes Emily Rebecca Mausteller [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://mds.marshall.edu/etd Part of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Behavior and Ethology Commons, Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, and the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons Recommended Citation Mausteller, Emily Rebecca, "Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) Ambush Site Selection in Coastal Saltwater Marshes" (2020). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 1313. https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/1313 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], [email protected]. EASTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE (CROTALUS ADAMANTEUS) AMBUSH SITE SELECTION IN COASTAL SALTWATER MARSHES A thesis submitted to the Graduate College of Marshall University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science In Biological Sciences by Emily Rebecca Mausteller Approved by Dr. Shane Welch, Committee Chairperson Dr. Jayme Waldron Dr. Anne Axel Marshall University December 2020 i APPROVAL OF THESIS We, the faculty supervising the work of Emily Mausteller, affirm that the thesis, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) Ambush Site Selection in Coastal Saltwater Marshes, meets the high academic standards for original scholarship and creative work established by the Biological Sciences Program and the College of Science. This work also conforms to the editorial standards of our discipline and the Graduate College of Marshall University.
    [Show full text]