Rattlesnake
Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical Rattlesnake
VenomousCrotalus ehecatl
6 photographs of the Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical Rattlesnake. © Francisco Emilio Roldán Velasco.
The Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical Rattlesnake (Crotalus ehecatl) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 5 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
- Typically 2–5 ft; some species exceed 6 ft.
- Habitat
- Deserts, rocky outcrops, grasslands, and woodland edges, depending on species.
- Behavior
- Ambush predators that buzz the tail as a warning; mostly active in warm months and often crepuscular in summer heat.
- Identify
- Heavy body, broad triangular head, vertical (cat-like) pupils, and a segmented keratin rattle at the tail tip.
- Danger
- high
About the Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical Rattlesnake
Crotalus ehecatl, the Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical rattlesnake, is a species of venomous snake in the genus Crotalus found in Mexico.
Etymology
The specific name, ehecatl, comes from the Nahuatl word "Ehēcatl" meaning "the wind" or "Lord of the wind", referring to the Aztec deity associated with wind.
Description
Crotalus ehecatl is a large and heavy-bodied snake, with adults reaching lengths of up to 165.3 cm (approximately 65 inches). The body pattern consists of a series of dark, diamond-shaped blotches on a lighter background, which can vary from gray to brown. The head features a distinctive lance-shaped pattern.
This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males having significantly longer tails than females. The diet consists primarily of mammals, with feeding occurring mainly during the rainy season. Activity patterns are crepuscular and nocturnal during warmer months, and diurnal during cooler months.
Geographical range
The Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical rattlesnake is endemic to Mexico, specifically distributed along the Pacific versant from central-south Oaxaca, southward across the Tehuantepec Isthmus to west of Tonalá, Chiapas, and in the Grijalva River basin reaching Comitán, Chiapas. It inhabits tropical deciduous forests and seasonal rainforests, preferring open canopy habitats with rocky outcroppings.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical Rattlesnake
- Is the Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical Rattlesnake venomous?
- Yes. The Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical Rattlesnake (Crotalus ehecatl) 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 Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical Rattlesnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical Rattlesnake is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical 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 Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical Rattlesnake live?
- The Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical Rattlesnake has verified records in 5 countries, including Mexico, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, United States of America. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical Rattlesnake?
- Heavy body, broad triangular head, vertical (cat-like) pupils, and a segmented keratin rattle at the tail tip.
- How big does the Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical Rattlesnake get?
- Typically 2–5 ft; some species exceed 6 ft.
- Why is it called the Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical Rattlesnake?
- The specific name, ehecatl, comes from the Nahuatl word "Ehēcatl" meaning "the wind" or "Lord of the wind", referring to the Aztec deity associated with wind.
If you are bitten by the Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical 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.
Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical Rattlesnake vs Gopher Snake→
More Viperidae snakes
Western RattlesnakeCrotalus oreganus
Western Diamond-backed RattlesnakeCrotalus atrox
Timber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus
Prairie RattlesnakeCrotalus viridis
Red Diamond RattlesnakeCrotalus ruber
Mojave RattlesnakeCrotalus scutulatus
Western Black-tailed RattlesnakeCrotalus molossus
SidewinderCrotalus cerastes
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.