Mohave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) Identification Revisited.
Wilderness Environ Med
; 33(2): 210-218, 2022 06.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35221167
Crotalus scutulatus (Mohave rattlesnake) is a clinically significant pit viper broadly distributed across much of the arid southwestern United States and mainland Mexico. Identification of C scutulatus is a concern among emergency medical service and emergency department personnel owing to its reputation for severe envenomations and difficulty in visually differentiating between C scutulatus and other species, primarily Crotalus atrox (western diamond-backed rattlesnake). We contrast distinctive characteristics of C scutulatus, C atrox, and 3 other sympatric species: Crotalus molossus, Crotalus ornatus, and Crotalus viridis (western and eastern black-tailed rattlesnakes and prairie rattlesnake, respectively). Greenish coloration eliminates C atrox but does not confirm C scutulatus. Obvious coarse and fine speckling of the dorsal pattern and a pale postocular stripe intersecting the mouth characterize C atrox. Dorsal speckling is insignificant or absent in the other species, whereas the pale postocular stripe passes above the mouth in C scutulatus and C viridis and is absent in C molossus and C ornatus. Tails boldly ringed with alternating black and white or contrasting shades of gray are shared by C atrox and C scutulatus, respectively, but a lack of boldly ringed tails characterizes the other species. The proximal rattle segment is yellow and black, or entirely yellow, in C scutulatus but black in the others. The most reliable visual identifications are based on evaluations of multiple traits, all of which are variable to some extent. Traits such as tail ring width and the size and number of crown scales have frequently been overemphasized in the past.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Crotalus
/
Venenos de Crotalídeos
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
País/Região como assunto:
Mexico
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Wilderness Environ Med
Assunto da revista:
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de publicação:
Estados Unidos