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Rattlesnake

Totonacan Rattlesnake

Venomous

Crotalus totonacus

Totonacan Rattlesnake
Crotalus totonacus, © Cullen Hanks
Totonacan RattlesnakeTotonacan RattlesnakeTotonacan RattlesnakeTotonacan RattlesnakeTotonacan Rattlesnake

6 photographs of the Totonacan Rattlesnake. © Cullen Hanks.

The Totonacan Rattlesnake (Crotalus totonacus) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 2 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 Totonacan Rattlesnake

Common name: Totonacan rattlesnake

Crotalus totonacus is a venomous pit viper species found in northeastern Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Description

Adults frequently grow to more than 150 cm (4 ft 11 in) in length. The largest recorded specimen was 166.5 cm (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in) in length.

Geographic range

It is found in northeastern Mexico from central Nuevo León through southern Tamaulipas, northern Veracruz, eastern San Luis Potosí and northern Querétaro. The type locality given is "Panaco Island, about 75 miles [120 km] south of Tampico, Veracruz, Mexico, 12 miles [19 km] inland from Cabo Rojo".

Diet

Crotalus totonacus is known to prey on small mammals and birds. In addition to mammal hair and bird feathers found in stomachs, specific prey items include cave rats (Neotoma sp.), Allen's tree squirrels (Sciurus alleni), and rock squirrels (Spermophilus [Otospermophilus] variegatus).

Taxonomy

This species was previously considered a subspecies of C. durissus.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Totonacan Rattlesnake

Is the Totonacan Rattlesnake venomous?
Yes. The Totonacan Rattlesnake (Crotalus totonacus) 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 Totonacan Rattlesnake poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Totonacan Rattlesnake is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Totonacan 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 Totonacan Rattlesnake live?
The Totonacan Rattlesnake has verified records in 2 countries, including Mexico, United States of America. See the distribution section below for its full range.
How do I identify the Totonacan Rattlesnake?
Heavy body, broad triangular head, vertical (cat-like) pupils, and a segmented keratin rattle at the tail tip.
How big does the Totonacan Rattlesnake get?
Typically 2–5 ft; some species exceed 6 ft.
What does the Totonacan Rattlesnake eat?
Crotalus totonacus is known to prey on small mammals and birds. In addition to mammal hair and bird feathers found in stomachs, specific prey items include cave rats (Neotoma sp.), Allen's tree squirrels (Sciurus alleni), and rock squirrels (Spermophilus [Otospermophilus] variegatus).

If you are bitten by the Totonacan Rattlesnake

A venomous snakebite is a medical emergency. Call your local emergency number immediately. In the US, dial 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

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

MexicoUnited States of America

Snakes it is confused with

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.

OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
Squamata
FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
Viperidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
Crotalus
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
Crotalus totonacus

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.