Crotalus ruber

• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Common Names

Click on the language to view common names.

Description

Physical Description

Habitat

Inhabits arid scrub , coastal chaparral , oak and pine woodlands, rocky grassland, cultivated areas. On the desert slopes of the mountains, it ranges into rocky desert flats.[1]

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 964 meters (0 to 3,163 feet).[2]

Ecology: Habitats are varied and include rocky areas of tropical deciduous forest , ocean shores , desert scrub , thorn scrub, open chaparral , mesquite-cactus, and pine-oak woodland, sometimes also dunes, grassland, and cultivated areas between rock outcrops (Grismer 2002, Stebbins 2003, Campbell and Lamar 2004). In southern California, this snake is most common in the western foothills of the Coast Ranges and in dry rocky inland valleys (Ernst 1992, Ernst and Ernst 2003, based on Klauber's studies in San Diego County); it often inhabits areas of granite rock outcroppings, especially in winter (Armstrong and Murphy 1979). In southern Baja California, it is most common in heavy brush where rocks and rocky outcrops are prevalent, but it also occurs in desert and open arid plains (Armstrong and Murphy 1979). This terrestrial snake commonly climbs into low vegetation. Refuges include rock crevices, animal burrows, brush piles, surface debris , or similar sites.[3]

List of Habitats: 1.4 Forest - Temperate 3.4 Shrubland - Temperate 3.8 Shrubland - Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation 4.4 Grassland - Temperate 6 Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs , mountain peaks) 8.2 Desert - Temperate

Biology

Diet

Eats small mammals, including ground squirrels, wood rats , and rabbits, lizards, and birds. (Adult California Ground Squirrels are immune to rattlesnake venom and will intensely confront any snake they feel to be a threat .)[1]

Reproduction

Live-bearing; young born July - September. Male to male combat occurs.[1]

Behavior

Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular during periods of excessive daytime heat, but also active during daylight when the temperature is more moderate or when in the comparatively cooler shaded areas of boulder fields . Not active during cooler periods in Winter. Terrestrial , but may partially climb shrubs or trees . Prey is found when actively moving, or by ambush, where the snake waits near lizard or rodent trails , striking at and releasing passing prey. The snake then follows the trail of the envenomated animal and swallows it whole. When alarmed, a rattlesnake shakes its tail back and forth. The movement rubs the rattle segments together producing a buzzing sound which serves as a warning. Juveniles are born with only a silent button at the end of the tail.[1]

Taxonomy

Unambiguous Synonyms

1. Crotalus adamanteus var. ruber Cope 1892: 690
2. Crotalus exsul Garman 1884
3. Crotalus exsul — Liner 1994
4. Crotalus exsul — McDiarmid, Campbell and TourÉ 1999: 284
5. Crotalus ruber ruber Cope 1892
6. Crotalus ruber ruber Klauber 1949
7. Crotalus ruber ruber — Liner 1994
8. Crotalus ruber ruber — Stebbins 1985: 227
9. Crotalus ruber — McDiarmid, Campbell and TourÉ 1999: 292

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Previously recognized as a subspecies of Crotalus ruber: Crotalus ruber ruber. Some taxonomists regard this snake as a subspecies of Crotalus exsul labelling it Crotalus exsul ruber.[1]

Similar Species

Members of the genus Crotalus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 186 species and subspecies in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

C. abyssus · C. adamanteus (Eastern Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake) · C. adamanteus pleistofloridensis · C. adamanteus ruber · C. adamantus · C. addmanteus · C. admanteus · C. angelensis · C. aquilus · C. atricaudatus · C. atrose · C. atrox (Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake) · C. atrox=cinereus · C. atrox atrox (Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake) · C. atrox elegans · C. basciliscus · C. basiliscus (Mexican West Coast Rattlesnake) · C. basiliscus basiliscus · C. basiliscus oaxacus · C. biseriatus · C. caliginis · C. cascavella · C. catalinensis (Santa Catalina Island Rattlesnake) · C. cerastes (Gehörnte Klapperschlange) · C. cerastes cerastes (Mojave Desert Sidewinder) · C. cerastes cercobombus (Sonoran Sidewinder) · C. cerastes laterorepens (Colorado Desert Sidewinder) · C. cerberus · C. cinereous · C. concolor · C. confluentus · C. confluentus abyssus · C. confluentus kellyi · C. confluentus lutosus · C. confluentus nuntius · C. confluentus stephensi · C. culminatus · C. cumanensis · C. duriscus · C. durissus (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C. durissus cascavella (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C. durissus collilineatus (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C. durissus culminatus (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C. durissus cumanensis (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C. durissus dryinas · C. durissus dryinus · C. durissus durissus (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C. durissus marajoensis (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C. durissus ruruima (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C. durissus terrificus (South American Rattlesnake) · C. durissus totonacus (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C. durissus trigonicus (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C. durissus tzabcan (Aruba Island Rattlesnake) · C. enyo (Lower California Rattlesnake) · C. enyo cerralvensis · C. enyo enyo (Lower California Rattlesnake) · C. enyo furvus · C. ericsmithi (Guerreran Long-Tailed Rattlesnake) · C. estebanensis · C. exsul · C. gloydi lautus · C. goldmani · C. guttata · C. helleri · C. horridus (Timber Rattlesnake (Atricaudatus)) · C. horridus atricaudatus · C. horridus horridus (Timber Rattlesnake (Atricaudatus)) · C. hortulanus · C. intermedius (Mexican Smallhead Rattlesnake) · C. intermedius gloydi · C. intermedius intermedius (Mexican Smallhead Rattlesnake) · C. intermedius omiltemanus · C. lannomi (Autlán Long-Tailed Rattlesnake) · C. lecontei · C. lepidus (Rock Rattlesnake) · C. lepidus klauberi (Banded Rock Rattlesnake) · C. lepidus lepidus (Mottled Rock Rattlesnake) · C. lepidus maculosus (Rock Rattlesnake) · C. lepidus morulus (Rock Rattlesnake) · C. lepidus semicornutus · C. lorenzoensis · C. lucasensis · C. lucifer · C. mitchelli · C. mitchellii (Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake) · C. mitchellii angelensis (Speckled Rattlesnake) · C. mitchellii mitchellii (Speckled Rattlesnake) · C. mitchellii muertensis (Speckled Rattlesnake) · C. mitchellii pyrrhus (Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake) · C. mitchellii stephensi (Panamint Rattlesnake) · C. mitchelli angelensis · C. mitchelli mitchelli · C. mitchelli muertensis · C. mitchelli pyrrhus (Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake) · C. molassus · C. molossus (Black-Tailed Rattlesnake) · C. molossus estebanensis (Black-Tailed Rattlesnake) · C. molossus molossus (Black-Tailed Rattlesnake) · C. molossus nigrescens (Black-Tailed Rattlesnake) · C. molossus nigriscens

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Further Reading

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• Alvarez, C.S., Galina-Tessaro., P. and González-R., A. 1988. Herpetofauna. In: A. Arriaga and A. Ortega (eds) La Sierra de la Laguna de Baja California Sur, pp. 167-184. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas de Baja California Sur A.C., La Paz, Baja California Sur.
• An annotated list of a collection of reptiles from southern and northern Lower California. Chicago: Field Columbian Museum, 1905. ENG url p. 17.
• Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. Washington: Smithsonian Institution, -1965. ENG url p. 109, p. 1167, p. 1225.
• Armstrong, B.L. and Murphy, J.B. 1979. The natural history of Mexican rattlesnakes. University of Kansas Museum Natural History, Special Publications 1(5): 1-88.
• Banks, R. C., R. W. McDiarmid, A. L. Gardner, and W. C. Starnes 2003. Checklist of Vertebrates of the United States, the U.S. Territories, and Canada.
• Banks, R. C., R. W. McDiarmid, and A. L. Gardner 1987. Checklist of Vertebrates of the United States, the U.S. Territories, and Canada. Resource Publication, no. 166. United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service. Washington, D.C., USA. 79.
• Bartlett, R.D. , and Alan Tennant. Snakes of North America - Western Region. Gulf Publishing Co., 2000.
• Beaman et al. (2006) Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 840:1-17.
• Behler, John L., and F. Wayne King. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, 1992.
• Bostic, D.L. 1971. Herpetofauna of the Pacific coast of north central Baja California, Mexico, with a description of a new subspecies of Phyllodactylus xanti. Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History 16: 237-264.
• Brown, Philip R. A Field Guide to Snakes of California. Gulf Publishing Co., 1997.
• Bulletin - United States National Museum. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, [etc.];1877-1971. ENG url p. 133, p. 138, p. 194, p. 204, p. 279.
• Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. Cambridge, Mass.: The Museum, ENG url p. 188.
• Campbell and Lamar (1989) Venomous Rept. Latin America.
• Campbell, J.A. and Lamar, W.W. 1989. The venomous reptiles of Latin America. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.
• Campbell, J.A. and Lamar, W.W. 2004. The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Comstock, Ithaca, New York and London, UK.
• Cliff, F.S. 1954. Snakes on the islands in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History 9: 67-98.
• Cope (1892) Proc. U.S. Natl. Mus. 14: 589-694
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• Ernst, Carl. H. Venomous Reptiles of North America. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1999.
• Flores-Villela, Oscar / McCoy, C. J., ed. 1993. Herpetofauna Mexicana: Lista anotada de las especies de anfibios y reptiles de México, cambios taxonómicos recientes, y nuevas especies. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication, no. 17. Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. iv + 73. ISBN: 0-911239-42-1.
• Garman (1884) Mem. Mus. comp. Zool, Cambridge (Massachusetts), 8 (3):
• Grismer (1999) Herpetologica 55 (4): 446-469
• Grismer et al. (1994) Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci. 93 (2): 45-80
• Grismer, L.L. 1999. An evolutionary classification of reptiles on islands in the Gulf of California, México. Herpetologica 55(4): 446-469.
• Grismer, L.L. 2002. Amphibians and Reptiles of Baja California, including its Pacific Islands and the Islands in the Sea of Cortés. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California.
• Grismer, L.L., McGuire, J.A. and Hollingsworth, B.D. 1994. A report on the herpetofauna of the Vizcaíno peninsula, Baja California, Mexico, with a discussion of its biogeographic and taxonomic implications. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 93: 45-80.
• Hollingsworth et al. (1996) Herpetological Review 27 (3): 143-144
• International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). 2000. Crotalus ruber Cope, 1892 (Reptilia, Serpentes): specific name given precedence over that of Crotalus exsul Garman, 1884. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 57: 189-190.
• Jennings, M.R. and Hayes, M.P. 1994. Amphibian and reptile species of special concern in California. Final Report submitted to the California Department of Fish and Game, Inland Fisheries Division, Rancho Cordova. Contract No. 8023. 255 pp.
• Klauber (1949) Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History 11 (5): 57-60
• Klauber, L.M. 1949. The relationship of Crotalus ruber and Cotalus lucasensis. Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History 11: 57-60.
• Klauber, L.M. 1972. Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind. Second edition. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
• Klauber, Laurence M. Rattlesnakes. University of California Press. (Abridged from the 1956 two volume Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind.) University of California Press, 1982.
• Maintenance of rattlesnakes in captivity / by James B. Murphy and Barry L. Armstrong. Lawrence: University of Kansas, 1978. ENG url p. 2, p. 3, p. 9.
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• McDiarmid, Roy W., Jonathan A. Campbell, and T'Shaka A. Touré 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. The Herpetologists' League. Washington, D.C., USA. xi + 511. ISBN: 1-893777-01-4.
• Murphy et al. (1995) Can. J. Zool. 73: 270-281
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• iv + 185 pp. [1883]

Notes

Contributors

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed April 18, 2007.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed February 27, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 2 providers.
• Hammerson, G.A., Frost, D.R. and Hollingsworth, B. 2007. In IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCNRedList.org. Downloaded July 19, 2008.
• Nafis, Gary. California Reptiles and Amphibians. Accessed June 23, 2009.
• Uetz, Peter. The Reptile Database

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2538271
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: ITS-563906 Rep-8046
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 563906
• IUCN ID: 64331
• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: ARADE02090
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 177927

Footnotes

1. Nafis, Gary. California Reptiles and Amphibians [back]
2. Mean = 392.710 meters (1,288.419 feet), Standard Deviation = 313.910 based on 24 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
3. Hammerson, G.A., Frost, D.R. & Hollingsworth, B. 2007. In IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCNRedList.org. Downloaded July 19, 2008. [back]

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