You are here » home advanced search Crotalus tigris

Crotalus tigris KENNICOTT, 1859

IUCN Red List - Crotalus tigris - Least Concern, LC

Can you confirm these amateur observations of Crotalus tigris?

Add your own observation of
Crotalus tigris »

Find more photos by Google images search: Google images

Higher TaxaViperidae, Crotalinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Tiger Rattlesnake
G: Tiger-Klapperschlange
S: Cascabel Tigre 
SynonymCrotalus tigris KENNICOTT in BAIRD 1859: 14
Crotalus tigris — KLAUBER 1952: 111
Crotalus tigris — STEBBINS 1985: 230
Crotalus tigris — LINER 1994
Crotalus tigris — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 295
Crotalus tigris — ERNST & ERNST 2003: 533
Crotalus tigris — BEAMAN & HAYES 2008
Matteoea tigris — HOSER 2009
Crotalus tigris — WALLACH et al. 2014: 195 
DistributionUSA (SC Arizona), Mexico (Sonora)

Type locality: "Sierra Verde and Pozo Verde." Pozo Verde is a spring located on the Sonoran side of the USA-Mexico border, near Sasabe. It is on the western slope of the southern end of the Sierra Verde, which is also known as the Sierra del Pozo Verde, according to Stejneger 1893: 214 and indicated on recent maps of Sonora, Mexico.  
Reproductionovovivparous 
TypesHolotype: USNM 471. The original series consisted of three specimens (USNM 471-473) all with the same data. It is not clear which specimen(s) Kennicott examined when he wrote the description. Only a single specimen "No. 471. Sierra Verde and Pozo Verde" was listed by Baird (1859:14) and this specimen has been called the type by Gloyd, 1940, Chicago Acad. Sci., Spec. Publ. (4):266 pp. [223] and Klauber, 1956, Rattlesnakes, 1st ed., 1:708 pp.[43], and holotype by Cochran, 1961, Bull. U.S. Natl. Mus. (220):292 pp. [171]. USNM 471 and USNM 472 were called "the types" by Cope, 1900 [dated 1898], Rep. U.S. Natl. Mus. 1898: 153-1270 [1182], with no mention of USNM 473. It seems likely that USNM 473 had been exchanged to The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia before Cope's manuscript was completed. Klauber (1930, Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 6:95-144 [106]) referred to USNM 471 and USNM 472 as co-types and later (Klauber, 1956, Rattlesnakes, 1st ed., 1:708 pp. [43]), stated USNM 472 and USNM 473 [now ANSP 7160] may be considered "cotypes." In contrast, Gloyd (1940:223 and footnote) referred to USNM 472 and USNM 473 as paratypes. McDiarmid et al. 1999 consider USNM 471 as the holotype. If data become available that suggest that Kennicott actually examined two or three specimens, then we would recommend that the three specimens be considered syntypes and Gloyd's (1940:223) action (possibly an earlier one exists) designating USNM 471 as the lectotype be followed. 
DiagnosisAdditional details, e.g. a detailed description or comparisons (2731 characters), are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. 
CommentVenomous!

Nomenclature: Hoser’s 2009 classification and nomenclature has been rejected as unnecessary and unavailable by WÜSTER & BERNILS 2011.

Distribution: see map in Meik et al. 2015: Fig. 1 
EtymologyApparently named after Latin tigris, i.e. “of a tiger”, in reference to the color pattern. 
References
  • Amaral,A. do 1929. Studies of nearctic ophidia III. Notes on Crotalus tigris KENNICOTT, 1839. Bull. Antivenin Inst. America 2 (4): 82-85
  • Baird, S.F. 1859. Reptiles of the Boundary. In: United States and Mexican Boundary Survey under the Order of Lieut. Col. W. H. Emory, Major First Cavalry, and United States Commisioner. 2, Rept., Pt.2. Department of the Interior, Washington, 35 pp. - get paper here
  • Beaman, K.R. & Hayes, W.K. 2008. Rattlesnakes: Research Trends and Annotated Checklist. In: Hayes et al. (eds), The biology of rattlesnakes. Loma Linda University Press, pp. 5-16
  • Bezy, R. L., P. C. Rosen, T. R. Van Devender, and E. F. Enderson. 2017. Southern distributional limits of the Sonoran Desert herpetofauna along the mainland coast of northwestern Mexico. Mesoamerican Herpetology 4(1): 138–167 - get paper here
  • Bezy, Robert L. and Charles J. Cole 2014. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Madrean Archipelago of Arizona and New Mexico. American Museum Novitates (3810): 1-24 - get paper here
  • BROWN, P. H. H 2020. Geographic Distribution: Crotalus tigris (Tiger Rattlesnake). USA: New Mexico: Hidalgo Co. Herpetological Review 51: 78.
  • Campbell, J.A. & Lamar, W.W. 1989. The Venomous Reptiles of Latin America. Comstock Publishing/Cornell University Press, Ithaca
  • Cope, E.D. 1900. The crocodilians, lizards and snakes of North America. Ann. Rep. U.S. Natl. Mus. 1898: 153-1270 - get paper here
  • Crother, B. I. (ed.) 2012. Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and Crocodilians, Seventh Edition. Herpetological Circular 39: 1-92
  • DIETRICH, BRANDON M. & YEKATERINA S. PAVLOVA. 2021. Geographic distribution: CROTALUS TIGRIS (Tiger Rattlesnake). MEXICO: SONORA: Municipality of Agua Prieta. Herpetological Review 52 (2): 347. - get paper here
  • Douglas, Michael E.; Marlis R. Douglas, Gordon W. Schuett & Louis W. Porras 2006. Evolution of Rattlesnakes (Viperidae: Crotalus) in the Warm Deserts of Western North America Shaped by Neogene Vicariance and Quaternary Climate Change. Molecular Ecology 15: 3353-3374 - get paper here
  • Ernst, C.H. & Ernst, E.M. 2003. Snakes of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Inst. Press, Washington, 668 pp.
  • FLESCH, AARON D.; DON E. SWANN, DALE S. TURNER, AND BRIAN F. POWELL 2010. HERPETOFAUNA OF THE RINCON MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA. Southwestern Naturalist 55(2):240–253 - get paper here
  • GARCÍA-PADILLA, ELI; JORGE H. VALDEZ VILLAVICENCIO, ANNY PERALTA GARCÍA 2018. Las Serpientes de Cascabel más allá del continente. Especies - get paper here
  • Hare, T.A., and J.T. McNally. 1997. Evalulation of a rattlesnake relocation program in the Tucson, Arizona, area. Sonoran Herpetologist 10 (3):26-31. - get paper here
  • Heimes, P. 2016. Snakes of Mexico. Chimaira, Frankfurt, 572 pp
  • Holycross, Andrew T. 1998. Geographic Distribution. Crotalus tigris. Herpetological Review 29 (2): 111 - get paper here
  • Hoser, R. 2009. A reclassification of the rattlesnakes; species formerly exclusively referred to the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus. Australasian J. Herpetol. 3: 1-21 - get paper here
  • Jimenez-Canal, Jorge 2020. Herpetofauna Diversity of Famous Hiking and Trekking sites in Hermosillo, Sonora Mexico. Sonoran Herpetologist 33 (1): 11-14 - get paper here
  • Klauber, Laurence M. 1931. Crotalus tigris and Crotalus enyo, two little known rattlesnakes of the southwest. Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History 6 (24): 353-370 - get paper here
  • Klauber, Laurence M. 1952. Taxonomic studies on rattlesnakes of Mainland Mexico. Bulletins of the Zoological Society of San Diego (26): 1-143 - get paper here
  • Lemos-Espinal JA, Smith GR, Rorabaugh JC 2019. A conservation checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of Sonora, Mexico, with updated species lists. ZooKeys 829: 131-160 - get paper here
  • McDiarmid, R.W.; Campbell, J.A. & Touré,T.A. 1999. Snake species of the world. Vol. 1. [type catalogue] Herpetologists’ League, 511 pp.
  • Meik JM, Streicher JW, Lawing AM, Flores-Villela O, Fujita MK 2015. Limitations of Climatic Data for Inferring Species Boundaries: Insights from Speckled Rattlesnakes. PLoS One 10 (6): e0131435; doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0131435 - get paper here
  • Meik, Jesse M and André Pires-daSilva 2009. Evolutionary morphology of the rattlesnake style. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2009, 9:35 - get paper here
  • Monzel, Markus M 2012. Gifte, Gifttiere, Menschen – eine Geschichte voller (Miss)Verständnisse. Draco 13 (51): 4-25 - get paper here
  • Morris, Matthew C. 2016. Geographic Distribution: Crotalus tigris (Tiger Rattlesnake). Herpetological Review 47 (2): 261 - get paper here
  • Nevárez-de los Reyes; Manuel, David Lazcano, Javier Banda-Leal and Ian Recchio 2014. Notes on Mexican Herpetofauna 22: Herpetofauna of the Continental Portion of the Municipality of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 49(8):105-115 - get paper here
  • Painter, Charles W.;Milensky, Christopher M. 1993. Crotalus tigris (tiger rattlesnake). USA: Arizona. Herpetological Review 24 (4): 155-156 - get paper here
  • Parkinson,C.L. 1999. Molecular systematics and biogeographical history of pitvipers as determined by mitochondrial ribosomal DNA sequences. Copeia 1999 (3): 576-586 - get paper here
  • Pavlik, S. 2007. Arboreal behavior in the Tiger Rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris). Sonoran Herpetologist 20 (5):56. - get paper here
  • Perry, J. 1997. Research and publications of the Department of Herpetology at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Sonoran Herpetologist 10 (12):130-131. - get paper here
  • Perry-Richardson, J., and C. Ivanyi. 1992. Preliminary analysis of a study on free-ranging rattlesnakes on Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum grounds. Sonoran Herpetologist 5 (6):52-57. - get paper here
  • Powell, R.L., C.S. Lieb & E.D. Rael 2004. Identification of a Neurotoxic Venom Component in the Tiger Rattlesnake, Crotalus tigris Journal of Herpetology 38 (1): 149-152. - get paper here
  • Robles, G. and J.C. Rorabaugh 2020. Predation of a Sonoran Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis sonorae) by a Tiger Rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris) in the Sierra Azul, Rancho El Aribabi, Sonora, Mexico. Sonoran Herpetologist 33 (3): 79
  • Skubowius, Bernd 2012. Auf Schlangensuche in Arizona. Draco 13 (50): 62-69 - get paper here
  • Spinner, L. 2017. Die Klapperschlangen der USA in Natur und Terrarium. Reptilia (Münster) 22 (124): 18-33 - get paper here
  • Stebbins,R.C. 1985. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, 2nd ed. Houghton Mifflin, Boston
  • Stejneger, L.H. 1893. Annotated list of the reptiles and batrachians collected by the Death Valley Expedition in 1891, with descriptions of new species. North American Fauna, No. 7: 159-228 (+ 14 plates + 4 maps) - get paper here
  • Taylor, Edward Harrison 1938. Notes on the herpetological fauna of the Mexican state of Sonora. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 24 (19): 475-503 [1936] - get paper here
  • Turner, D. S., Van Devender, T. R., Hale, S. F., Zach, R., Martínez, R., Van Devender, R. W., ... & Paholski, C. 2022. Amphibians and reptiles of Rancho Las Playitas area, Sonora, Mexico. Sonoran Herpetologist, 35, 50-59 - get paper here
  • Van Denburgh, John and Joseph R. Slevin 1913. A list of the amphibians and reptiles of Arizona, with notes on the species in the collection of the Academy. Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. 3 (13): 391-454 - get paper here
  • Wallach, Van; Kenneth L. Williams , Jeff Boundy 2014. Snakes of the World: A Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species. [type catalogue] Taylor and Francis, CRC Press, 1237 pp.
  • Winchell, S. 2007. Klapperschlangen! Die Gattung Crotalus. Reptilia (Münster) 12 (66): 18-25 - get paper here
  • Wüster, W. & Bérnils, R.S. 2011. On the generic classification of the rattlesnakes, with special reference to the Neotropical Crotalus durissus complex (Squamata: Viperidae). ZOOLOGIA 28 (4): 417–419 - get paper here
 
External links  
Is it interesting? Share with others:


Please submit feedback about this entry to the curator