Desert Grassland Massasauga,
or,
Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii
If you want to learn more about this snake use the second name
One doesn't usually associate romance with a rattlesnake, but the desert massasauga's courtship behavior may change that. When courting a female, the male massasauga rubs his chin on her head and neck and loops his tail over hers in gestures that may seem familiar to any amorous human. At other times, however, they are secretive, as they are small and cryptically colored. The desert massasauga is one of three subspecies of massasauga (eastern, western, and desert), and prefers to live in grassland habitat in the southern Great Plains and Chihuahuan Desert
Above: The Southern Great Plains, and the Chihuahuan Desert
For hibernation, this snake depends on rodent burrows, including those created by black-tailed prairie dogs. Desert massasaugas feed primarily on lizards, mammals, and centipedes. The proportion of food items depends on the snake's size and age.
The range of the desert massasauga rattlesnake used to stretch from northern Mexico to eastern Colorado.
However, the populations have been scattered across Colorado, southwestern Kansas, parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico.
The desert massauga has suffered many declines across its range, but the most serious threat to the massasauga is habitat loss by tilling and overgrazing which renders the short prairie grass uninhabitable for any reptiles.
Many humans persecute them, because they are venomous. Some have go way further and destroy nesting sites the snakes have. During a roundup in Sweetwater, Texas. over 10,00 snakes were killed over several days of festivities.
Come on. 10, 000 snakes I think that is a little excessive don't you? That is just gross and nasty. Won't people just believe the facts for once? Leave the snakes alone and then they won't do you any harm, but yes if you destroy their home they are sure to bite!
Rattlers are not pets they belong in the wild! How disgusting would it be to find out that your souvenir was snake skin from a snake about to become a mother and lay eggs before she was killed.
I would toss that souvenir in the trash! But that's my opinion, I am here to make you aware of all the wrong going on in our world today. A dead snake the end of those particular snake genes.
The Desert Massasauga is a small rattlesnake with a light gray or white base color, with dark gray or gray brown blotches. There is a dark stripe along the side of the head passing over the eye. The rattles are quite high pitched compared with some of the larger species of rattlesnake. The underside is nearly white. They are mainly nocturnal, and avoid the heat of the day in summer. The Desert Massasauga is paler in color, smaller and more slender than the Western Massasauga (S. c. tergeminus
Other Names
Edward's Massasauga, or Edward's rattlesnake
Size: 30 cm - 50 cm
They give birth to living young (ovoviviparous). Breeding occurs during the late summer and up to 7 live young are born the following year.
Massasauga has more potent venom than some larger species of rattlesnakes, but it cannot deliver as much in a single bite, reducing its potential danger. They are not considered to be deadly, but venom can cause swelling, necrosis, and severe pain.
Classification
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata (Serpentes)
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Sistrurus
Species: catenatus edwardsii
Common Name: Desert Massasauga,