Crotalus pusillus - Tancitaran dusky rattlesnake

Meaning
pusillus – meaning "very small" in Latin.

English name
Tancitaran dusky rattlesnake

Distribution
This snake is found in the highlands of West-central Mexico.

Habitat
This species is usually found in the higher rocky habitats volcanic rock or large outcroppings which are covered with pine-oak forests and open spaces between. Usually between 1525 – 2380 metres above sealevel.

Description
This small rattlesnake species reaches generally a length of 40-55cm (largest recorded was a male of 68.2cm).
The ground color is usually greyish brown with 35 too 50 dark brown middorsal blotches which are irregularly edged with black and/or white. There is a difference in the animals from Cerro Tancitaro, which have 33-46 blotches, and Sierra de Coalcoman with 40-50 blotches.
A dark brown postocular stripe is present and the proximal ratle is gray-black.

Diet
Their diet will probably consist out of amphibians and other reptiles but insects and small mammals are most likely also to be eaten.

Venom
C. pusillus is considered to be not very dangerous for humans due to their small length and thereby small venom yield, but with any rattlesnake any bite should be taken serious. Local effects will probably consist of swelling, ecchymosis and pain.

Extra
Not much is know about this species, there are some isolated populations but with evermore habitat destruction chances are this species will disappear forever in the near future.
Often confused with C. triseriatus; main difference is C. pusillus has 2 "symmetrical" prefrontals, C. triseriatus three or more irregular scales before the internasals.