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Crotalus thalassoporus

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Crotalus thalassoporus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Crotalus
Species:
C. thalassoporus
Binomial name
Crotalus thalassoporus
Meik et al., 2018

Crotalus thalassoporus, or the Louse Island speckled rattlesnake, is a species of rattlesnake from Piojo Island, Baja California, Mexico. The species is named after the Greek word for 'Seafaring' in reference to the assumed overseas dispersal from Piojo Island to Smith Island.[1] As with all rattlesnakes, it is venomous.[2]

Only separated from mainland species by rising oceans within the past 10 thousand years, C. thalassoporus displays rapid dwarfism of its species from when it was split off.[1]

Description

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Crotalus thalassoporus can be distinguished from other similar snakes, such as C. mitchellii, C. pyrrhus, C. angelensis and C. polisi, by its specific scale and scale row counts as well as its beige/pink colouration, 27–40 rusty blotches, faint speckling, 3–5 tail bands and generally smaller size.[1]

Reproduction

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Crotalus thalassoporus is known to be viviparous.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Meik, Jesse M.; Schaack, Sarah; Flores-Villela, Oscar; Streicher, Jeffrey W. (2018-03-30). "Integrative taxonomy at the nexus of population divergence and speciation in insular speckled rattlesnakes". Journal of Natural History. 52 (13–16): 989–1016. Bibcode:2018JNatH..52..989M. doi:10.1080/00222933.2018.1429689.
  2. ^ a b "Crotalus thalassoporus". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2025-01-07.