Crotalus stejnegeri

{{Speciesbox

| image = Crotalus stejnegeri.jpg

| status = VU

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Mendoza-Quijano, F. |date=2007 |title=Crotalus stejnegeri |volume=2007 |page=e.T64333A12771355 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T64333A12771355.en |access-date=18 November 2021}}

| genus = Crotalus

| species = stejnegeri

| authority = Dunn, 1919McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. {{ISBN|1-893777-00-6}} (series). {{ISBN|1-893777-01-4}} (volume).{{pn|date=February 2019}}

| range_map = Crotalus stejnegeri distribution.png

}}

{{More citations needed|date=June 2018}}Crotalus stejnegeri, commonly known as the Sinaloan long-tailed rattlesnake or just long-tailed rattlesnake,Campbell JA, Lamar WW (2004). The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. 870 pp., 1,500 plates. {{ISBN|0-8014-4141-2}}.{{Cite web|title=Taxonomy browser (Crotalus stejnegeri)|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=1358803|access-date=2020-09-10|website=www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov}} is a venomous pit viper species in the family Viperidae. The species is native to western Mexico. There are no recognized subspecies.{{ITIS|id=585829|taxon=Crotalus stejnegeri |accessdate=1 August 2007}}

Etymology

The specific name, stejnegeri, is in honor of Leonhard Stejneger, herpetologist at the Smithsonian Institution for over 60 years."Crotalus stejnegeri ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. (Crotalus stejnegeri, p. 252).

Description

Adults of C. stejnegeri do not usually grow to more than {{convert|60|cm|in|abbr=on}} in total length (including tail). The greatest total length recorded for a specimen is {{convert|72.4|cm|in|abbr=on}}.Collins, Joseph T. (1982). "Crotalus stejnegeri Longtail rattlesnake". Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (pp. 303.1-303.2) https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/45219/0303_Crotalus_stejnegeri.pdf?sequence=1 The tail is relatively long, representing 11.0-14.8% of the total length of adult male snakes and 9.8-12.5% in females. Klauber (1940) suggested that since the rattle is tiny, it is probably not audible. A very rare species, there have only been 12 specimens found.{{Update inline|date=June 2018}}

Geographic range and habitat

C. stejnegeri is found in western Mexico in the mountains and foothills of eastern Sinaloa, western Durango, and small areas in northern Nayarit, between {{convert|500|and|1200|m|ft}} in altitude. The type locality given is "Plumosas [Plomosas], Sinaloa, Mexico". It occurs in pine-oak forest, subtropical dry forest, and tropical deciduous forest.

Conservation status

C. stejnegeri is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with the following criteria: B1ab(iii) (v3.1, 2001). A species is listed as such when the best available evidence indicates its extent of occurrence is estimated to be less than 20,000 km² (7,720 mi²), estimates indicate it is severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than 10 locations, and a continuing decline has been observed, inferred, or projected in its area, extent, and/or quality of habitat. Therefore, it is considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. The population trend was down when assessed in 2007.{{Redlist CC2001|date=13 September|year=2007}}{{Update inline|date=June 2018}}