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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
dusky pygmy rattlesnake |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Reptilia |
| ORDER: |
Squamata |
| FAMILY: |
Viperidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Sistrurus (rattle on tail) miliarius
(mullet-like, possible reference to its blotchy
color pattern) barbouri |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The dusky pygmy rattlesnake is a short, thick-bodied
snake. Markings include a dark line through each
eye; a series of dark, roughly circular spots running
down the center of the back; a thin reddish-orange
stripe along the mid-body line; and dark spots on
its white belly. |
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| SIZE: |
Range in length from 36-60 cm (15-24 in.); pygmies
in excess of 75 cm (30 in) are recorded; newborns
are 15-17.5 cm (6-7 in) |
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| WEIGHT: |
Weighs approximately 150 grams (5.4 oz.) |
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| DIET: |
Dusky pygmy rattlers are carnivorous, feeding mainly
on small mammals, birds, amphibians and other reptiles. |
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| INCUBATION: |
4-6
months
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| Females
are ovoviviparous - the young develop in eggs that
the female retains inside her boy. The young hatch
from the eggs, then the mother gives birth to the
live young. |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
2-12
young; average litter is 6 |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
2-4 years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Up
to 20 years |
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| RANGE: |
The dusky pygmy rattler is found in the southeastern
quarter of the United States (North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi,
Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas,
Oklahoma, Missouri). |
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| HABITAT: |
Inhabits woodlands, freshwater floodplains, and
marshes |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
No
data |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Not listed |
| USFWS |
Not listed |
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| 1. |
Another pygmy, the western pygmy is the smallest
venomous snake in the United States.
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| 2. |
These snakes are classified as pit vipers because
of facial pits found below and between the eye and
nostril on both sides of the head. The pit is highly
sensitive to infrared radiation (heat) and serves
as a direction finder in locating warm-blooded prey
or predators. |
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| 3. |
Rattlesnakes have a special feeding system based
on venom, injected into prey through teeth called
fangs. Pygmy rattlesnakes use their tail more as
a lure to attract prey than as a scare tactic. |
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| 4. |
The
venom is hemotoxic - although bites usually are
not life threatening, they are very painful and
can result in the loss of a digit (or similar areas)
if the wound is not properly cared for. |
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| 5. |
Like
many other pit vipers, pygmy rattlesnakes release
their prey after striking, and then scent-track
the prey after it dies. In one study, researchers
found that the venom may immobilize a small mammal
within 30-45 seconds, whereas lizards and frogs
may remain relatively mobile for 15-20 minutes after
being struck. Apparently some of these cold-blooded
prey are able to escape beyond the range which a
pygmy rattler can scent-track its prey. In one case
the researcher observed a pygmy rattler tracking
a dead anole lizard that had climbed up a tree and
died. Though the snake apparently knew where the
prey was, it could not reach it. |
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| 6. |
The rattle is a series of hard segments made of
keratin. A new segment is added each time a snake
sheds. When shaken, the segments vibrate against
each other, producing a familiar buzz. Unlike
other rattlesnakes, which may have loud rattles,
pygmies produce a much softer sound (almost a
whirring, thus giving them the nickname "buzzworm").
Often their rattles break off and produce no sound
at all.
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| 7. |
Don't
be fooled by the rattle - there are several snake
species (black racer, milk snake, hognose) that
vibrate their tails when cornered. |
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| 8. |
The
age of a rattlesnake is not evident by the size
of number of segments in its rattle. The rattle
is often broken off after a couple of years. An
adult rattlesnake that has the original button at
the tip of its tail is rare. |
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Snakes are not popular creatures in American culture,
but they are essential for controlling rodent
and other small mammal populations.
The
dusky pygmy rattler is one of the most abundant
venomous snakes in Florida. But in some areas,
these snakes are struggling to survive. They are
threatened by habitat destruction, pollution,
and urbanization. Sometimes they are just killed
out of fear.
These
snakes, as with other species of rattlers, are
destroyed by annual "rattlesnake round-ups"
that occur in several states in the U.S. Proceeds
from these events often benefit several prominent
charity organizations.
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|
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Ashton, Ray Jr. and Patricia Sawyer Ashton. Reptiles
and Amphibians of Florida: Part One, The Snakes.
Miami. Windward Pub.,1988.
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Mehrtens, John M. Living Snakes of the World.
New York. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 1987. |
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Stetson University. http://www.stetson.edu/departments/biology/piginfo.html
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