Rattlesnake
Pygmy Rattlesnake
VenomousSistrurus miliarius
6 photographs of the Pygmy Rattlesnake. © Scott Allen Davis.
The Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 3 countries.
If you are bitten
Rattlesnake bites are medically serious. Expect intense pain, rapid swelling, and bruising. Stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to an emergency room immediately. Do NOT apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or 911 in the US, or your local emergency number. (Source: CDC.)
- Also called
- Rattlesnake
- Family
- Viperidae
- Size
- Small rattlesnakes, usually 1.5–3 ft.
- Habitat
- Wetlands, prairies, and floodplain edges.
- Behavior
- Secretive; the small rattle makes a faint, insect-like buzz.
- Identify
- Stout, dark-blotched body, nine large scales on the crown, and a small rattle.
- Danger
- high
About the Pygmy Rattlesnake
Common names: pygmy rattlesnake, eastern pygmy rattlesnake, ground rattlesnake, leaf rattler, death rattler, more.
Sistrurus miliarius, commonly called the pygmy rattlesnake, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Crotalinae (pit vipers) of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to the Southeastern United States. Three subspecies are currently recognized.
Description
Sistrurus miliarius is a small species, but bulky in width, with adults usually growing to 40–60 cm (16–24 in) in total length (including tail). It is the smallest species of rattlesnake on the North American continent. The maximum reported total length is 78.8 cm (31.0 in) (Klauber, 1972). Snellings and Collins (1997) reported a specimen of S. m. barbouri measuring 80.3 cm (31.6 in), but it had been in captivity for over 12 years. The largest S. m. barbouri reported by Gloyd (1940) was a specimen measuring 63.8 cm (25.1 in) from St. Petersburg, Florida. Shine (1978) suggested that in some populations, males may be larger than females, but a later study by Bishop et al. (1996) did not find sexual dimorphism of any kind in a population in Volusia County, Florida. It is currently theorized that the lack of sexual dimorphism in the species is due to the fact that both males and females experience selective pressures to be of a larger size.
At midbody, the rows of dorsal scales usually number 23. The dorsal pattern consists of a series of oval or subcircular spots with somewhat regular edges. The spots on the flanks are mostly round and not much higher than they are wide. Belly pigmentation towards the rear is more limited to indistinct blotches found on pairs of adjacent scales. The juvenile color pattern is similar to the adult, although it may be paler or more vividly marked, and the tip of the tail is yellow.
Common names
Common names for Sistrurus miliarius include pygmy rattlesnake, ground rattlesnake, hog-nosed rattlesnake, little rattlesnake, miliar(y) rattlesnake, North American smaller rattlesnake, oak-leaf rattler, pygmy ground rattlesnake, small rattlesnake, southeastern ground rattlesnake, southern ground rattlesnake, southern pygmy rattlesnake, spotted rattler, spotted rattlesnake, southern rattlesnake.
Older common names might include bastard rattlesnake, nipple snake, Carolina ground rattlesnake, brick red rattlesnake, Carolina pygmy rattlesnake, Catesby's small snake, dwarf rattlesnake, eastern pygmy rattlesnake, grey rattlesnake, and ground rattler (Garman, 1887).
Etymology
The specific name, miliarius, is derived from Latin and means millet or millet-like, perhaps referring to the blotched patterns described in the species.
Geographic range
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Pygmy Rattlesnake
- Is the Pygmy Rattlesnake venomous?
- Yes. The Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius) is venomous and belongs to the Viperidae family (rattlesnake). Its bite is considered high risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.
- Is the Pygmy Rattlesnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Pygmy Rattlesnake is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Pygmy Rattlesnake dangerous?
- Rattlesnake bites are medically serious. Expect intense pain, rapid swelling, and bruising. Stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to an emergency room immediately. Do NOT apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or 911 in the US, or your local emergency number. (Source: CDC.)
- Where does the Pygmy Rattlesnake live?
- The Pygmy Rattlesnake has verified records in 3 countries, including United States of America, Mexico, Canada. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Pygmy Rattlesnake?
- Stout, dark-blotched body, nine large scales on the crown, and a small rattle.
- How big does the Pygmy Rattlesnake get?
- Small rattlesnakes, usually 1.5–3 ft.
- What does the Pygmy Rattlesnake eat?
- The diet of Sistrurus miliarius includes small mammals and birds, lizards, insects, and frogs, as well as other snakes. The pygmy rattlesnake also includes giant desert centipedes in its diet, which it hunts by active pursuit, grabbing and flipping the centipedes around while simultaneously injecting venom to prevent injury by the victim. It also ambushes lizards such as skinks by using its tail as a lure, as is common in many other species of vipers. Caudal luring becomes less effective for adults, as the prey size and type changes.
- Why is it called the Pygmy Rattlesnake?
- Common names for Sistrurus miliarius include pygmy rattlesnake, ground rattlesnake, hog-nosed rattlesnake, little rattlesnake, miliar(y) rattlesnake, North American smaller rattlesnake, oak-leaf rattler, pygmy ground rattlesnake, small rattlesnake, southeastern ground rattlesnake, southern ground rattlesnake, southern pygmy rattlesnake, spotted rattler, spotted rattlesnake, southern rattlesnake.
If you are bitten by the Pygmy Rattlesnake
Do
- Get away from the snake and stay calm. Most bites worsen when people panic or try again to handle the snake.
- Call 911 or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away. Antivenom works best when given early.
- Note the time of the bite and, from a safe distance, the snake's color and pattern, a phone photo is enough. Do not chase it.
- Keep the bitten limb still and at roughly heart level. Sit or lie down and limit movement.
- Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
- Gently wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.
Do not
- Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom.
- Do not apply a tourniquet or ice.
- Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.
- Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, they can worsen bleeding. Acetaminophen is safer for pain.
- Do not try to catch or kill the snake. A dead snake can still bite by reflex.
First-aid guidance adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC NIOSH), Venomous Snakes. Educational only; always follow the instructions of emergency responders.
Where it is found
Snakes it is confused with
Gopher SnakeHarmlessRattlesnakes are sometimes confused with harmless gophersnakes/bullsnakes; only rattlesnakes have a true segmented rattle and a facial pit.
Pygmy Rattlesnake vs Gopher Snake→
More Viperidae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
Keep learning
- Are Snakes Dangerous? The Real Risk, in PerspectiveMost snakes are harmless and avoid people. Here is the honest picture of snakebite risk worldwide and how to lower your own.
- Snakebite First Aid: What to Do (and What Never to Do)A clear, CDC-based guide to snakebite first aid: the steps that help, the popular myths that hurt, and how to tell a serious bite from a minor one.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.