| Agkistrodon russeolus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Agkistrodon |
| Species: | A. russeolus |
| Binomial name | |
| Agkistrodon russeolus | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Agkistrodon russeolus, commonly called the Yucatecan cantil, [3] is a venomous pit viper species [4] endemic to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico and northern Belize. [2]
Adults of A. russeolus may grow to a total length (including tail) of more than 100 cm (39 in). Gloyd and Conant (1990) reported that the largest specimens they saw were from Pisté, Yucatán: a male of 105 cm (41 in) with a missing tail tip and a female of 101 cm (40 in). The average tail length is 19.2% of total body length in males and 16% in females. [3]
Scalation includes 23 rows of keeled dorsal scales at midbody; 131-141 ventral scales; and 46-62 subcaudal scales, most of which are paired, especially towards the tail tip. [3]
The dorsal color pattern consists of light brown to deep reddish brown ground color overlaid with 12-18 broad brown or brownish crossbands. Laterally, these crossbands are more lightly colored in the center and usually contain one or two dark spots. The head is clearly marked on either side with two longitudinal light lines: the upper one is narrow and may be broken behind to the eye, while the lower one is wider and separated from the commissure by a dark band. [3]
Mayan names for A. russeolus are wol-poch (Gaige, 1936) and uol-poch (Schmidt and Andrews, 1936). [3]
Agkistrodon russeolus occurs on the Yucatán Peninsula. The type locality is "11.7 km north of Pisté, Yucatán, Mexico." [5] : 328 p. The majority of records are from the semi-arid northern regions of the peninsula in the state of Yucatán, Mexico. However, several additional records are scattered in the south at various isolated localities in the Mexican states of Campeche, Tabasco, the vicinity of the Quintana Roo and Belize border, and northern Guatemala. [3] : 60 p. [6] : 61 p. [7] : 399 p. [8] A number of reptiles from the Yucatán Peninsula fit this pattern of distribution, with continuous and unbroken records in the north, and several isolated and disjunct populations in the south. [9] : 32-33 p.
Northern areas of the Yucatán Peninsula support a predominantly low, deciduous scrub forest (Yucatán dry forests) with thin soils on a porous limestone karst landscape. Surface water is uncommon or absent in the region. [3] : 84 p. The vegetation zones in the north have been characterized as tropical deciduous forest attaining heights of 20 meters in some areas, and thorn forest 5-7 meters high that is impenetrable in places in the far north. Southern regions of the peninsula, including much of the states of Quintana Roo, Campeche and northern Belize and Guatemala (northern El Petén) sustain tropical evergreen forest averaging 25-30 meters high. The canopy may be closed in some areas with a dense understory of vines and shrubs or more open in other areas allowing light to the ground. [7] : 9-10 p.
The eastern copperhead, also known simply as the copperhead, is a species of venomous snake, a pit viper, endemic to eastern North America; it is a member of the subfamily Crotalinae in the family Viperidae.
Agkistrodon piscivorus is a species of venomous snake, a pit viper in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. It is one of the world's few semiaquatic vipers, and is native to the Southeastern United States. As an adult, it is large and capable of delivering a painful and potentially fatal bite. When threatened, it may respond by coiling its body and displaying its fangs. Individuals may bite when feeling threatened or being handled in any way. It tends to be found in or near water, particularly in slow-moving and shallow lakes, streams, and marshes. It is a capable swimmer, and like several species of snakes, is known to occasionally enter bays and estuaries and swim between barrier islands and the mainland.
Agkistrodon is a genus of venomous pit vipers commonly known as American moccasins. The genus is endemic to North America, ranging from the Southern United States to northern Costa Rica. Eight species are currently recognized, all of them monotypic and closely related. Common names include: cottonmouths, copperheads, and cantils.
Gloydius is a genus of venomous pitvipers endemic to Asia, also known as Asian moccasins or Asian ground pit vipers. Named after American herpetologist Howard K. Gloyd, this genus is very similar to the North American genus Agkistrodon. 24 species are currently recognized.
Hypnale is a genus of venomous pit vipers endemic to Sri Lanka and southwestern India. Three monotypic species are currently recognized. All members have more or less upturned snouts that produce a hump-nosed effect.
The western cottonmouth was once classified as a subspecies of the cottonmouth. However, DNA based studies published in 2008 and 2015, revealed no significant genetic difference between the eastern cottonmouth and the western cottonmouth and synonymized the two subspecies. The resulting taxonomy does not recognizes the western cottonmouth as a valid taxon. Several subsequent reviews and species accounts have followed and supported the revised taxonomy. Information on this snake can be found in the Agkistrodon piscivorus article.
Agkistrodon taylori is a species of venomous snake, a pitviper (Crotalinae) found only in northeastern Mexico. The standardized names are Taylor's cantil (English) and Metapil (Spanish), although it is sometimes called the ornate cantil as well as several other colloquial names. It was named in honor of American herpetologist Edward Harrison Taylor.
Agkistrodon bilineatus is a highly venomous pit viper species found in Mexico and Central America as far south as Honduras.
The Florida cottonmouth is a species of venomous snake, a pit viper in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to the United States, where it occurs in southern Georgia and the Florida peninsula in nearly every type of wetlands in the region, including brackish water and offshore islands. However, it is not entirely dependent on water and is occasionally encountered as far as a mile from surface water. Agkistrodon conanti venom is very hemolytic and known to cause relatively extensive necrosis compared to many snake venoms, and can sometimes be lethal with a 17% mortality rate. It is often confused with harmless watersnakes (Nerodia) and other semi-aquatic species with which it shares its habitat.
Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster was formerly a venomous pit viper subspecies found in the Trans-Pecos region of the United States in western Texas, and northeastern Mexico. However, recent taxonomic changes do not recognize the Trans-Pecos copperhead as a valid taxon.
Crotalus oreganus abyssus is a venomous pit viper subspecies found only in the U.S. states of Arizona and Utah.
Gloydius halys is a venomous pitviper species found within a wide range that stretches across Asia, from Russia, east of the Urals, eastwards through China. Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominotypical form described here.
Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus was formerly a venomous pitviper, one of three subspecies of Agkistrodon piscivorus, with different geographic distributions, found in the southeastern United States. However, recent taxonomic changes do not recognizes any subspecies of cottonmouth as a valid taxa.
Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen was formerly a venomous pit viper subspecies found in the eastern United States. However, recent taxonomic changes do not recognize the northern copperhead as a valid taxon.
Agkistrodon howardgloydi is a species of venomous snake, a pit viper in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Central America. It is most commonly called castellana, but it has also been called the southern cantil, Gloyd's moccasin, and a number of other colloquial names. It is a rare species with a relatively small geographic distribution in the tropical dry forest on the Pacific coast of Honduras, Nicaragua, and extreme northwest Costa Rica. A. howardgloydi is a stout, medium-sized snake with a maximum total length of 96 cm (38 in). It is a viviparous species, with females giving birth in the rainy season from May to August. No clinical reports on envenomation had been published, but laboratory texts and analysis indicate the venom is highly toxic and similar to its close relative Agkistrodon bilineatus, and potentially lethal.
Gloydius intermedius, or Central Asian pit viper, is a venomous species of pitviper endemic to northern Asia. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.
Gloydius strauchi is a species of venomous pit viper in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to western China. It is a small snake with a pattern of four longitudinal stripes, although some older specimens may be a uniform black. G. strauchi may be distinguished from G. monticola by its higher midbody dorsal scale count. This species jointly holds the altitude record for pitvipers together with Crotalus triseriatus of Mexico, both being found even above the tree line at over 4,000 m (13,000 ft). No subspecies were recognized as being valid, until a recent publication re-evaluated the taxonomic statuses of populations of G. strauchi and described the eastern Tibetan populations as a new species.
Gloydius brevicauda is a venomous pitviper species endemic to China and the Korean Peninsula.
The Rio Fuerte beaded lizard is a venomous species of beaded lizard in the family Helodermatidae. It is found in the tropical forests and shrublands of western Mexico, specifically around the Rio Fuerte and Rio Mayo basins. It is often found in or near abandoned mammal burrows and sources of water.