Crotalus ravus, commonly known as the Mexican pigmy rattlesnake[1] or Mexican pygmy rattlesnake,[2] is a venomous pit viper species, found only in Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized.
A study using mitochondrial DNA strongly suggests that C. ravus is part of a species complex including Crotalus triseriatus, Crotalus pusillus, Crotalus aquilus, and Crotalus lepidus.[3] This study also confirmed strong genetic differentiation among the three subspecies aligning with geographic barriers. A follow-up study using seven nuclear markers places S. ravus basal to all other members of the species complex.[4]
| Subspecies | Taxon author | Common name | Geographic range |
|---|---|---|---|
| C. r. brunneus | Harris & Simmons, 1977 | Oaxacan pygmy rattlesnake | Mexico in the highlands of Oaxaca. |
| C. r. exiguus | Campbell & Armstrong, 1979 | Guerreran pygmy rattlesnake | Mexico in the Sierra Madre del Sur of central Guerrero. |
| C. r. ravus | (Cope, 1865) | Central Mexican pygmy rattlesnake | Mexico in the Altiplanicie Meridional, including the states of México, Morelos, Tlaxcala, Puebla, and Veracruz. |
Adults of this species usually grow to a length of 40-, but may reach more than 70cm (30inches). They are moderately stout in build.[2]
The distinguishing characteristics for the nominate subspecies C. r. ravus include parietal scales that are highly variable in shape and particularly large, less than 3 prefoveals, 21 midbody dorsal scales, 2–4 tail bands and a relatively large rattle.[2]
Found only in Mexico in the mountains in the center and south of the country, west of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Its range includes the southeastern part of the Mexican Plateau in the highlands of Mexico, Morelos, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Veracruz, Oaxaca, and the Sierra Madre del Sur in Guerrero. The type locality given is the "Table land of Mexico." Cochran (1961) interpreted this to be the "south tableland, Veracruz, Mexico."
Campbell and Lamar (2004)[2] describe this species as being found across the Mexican Plateau in the temperate regions of moderate to high elevations. They estimate the vertical distribution to be from about above sea level to a little over 3000m (10,000feet) altitude.[2]
Although being listed as of "Least Concern" by the IUCN, C. ravus was listed as "threatened" by the Mexican government in 2010.[5]