Rattlesnake
Yucatán Neotropical Rattlesnake
VenomousCrotalus tzabcan
6 photographs of the Yucatán Neotropical Rattlesnake. © Sebastián de Jesús Herrera Buenfil.
The Yucatán Neotropical Rattlesnake (Crotalus tzabcan) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 4 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 Yucatán Neotropical Rattlesnake
The Yucatán Neotropical Rattlesnake belongs to the Viperidae family, vipers & pit vipers. Heavy-bodied venomous snakes with long, hinged, hollow fangs.
Vipers are ambush predators with the most sophisticated venom-delivery system of any snake: long fangs that fold back against the roof of the mouth and swing forward to stab. The family splits into true vipers (adders, Gaboon viper, Russell's viper, saw-scaled vipers) and pit vipers (rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, lanceheads, bushmasters), which have a heat-sensing pit between the eye and nostril.
Its genus, Crotalus, covers rattlesnakes. Crotalus is the largest genus of rattlesnakes, New World pit vipers famous for the keratin rattle they shake as a warning.
The Yucatán Neotropical Rattlesnake is venomous. Treat any bite as a medical emergency, do not try to handle or capture the snake, and get professional medical care right away. Heavy body, broad triangular head, vertical (cat-like) pupils, and a segmented keratin rattle at the tail tip.
Typically 2–5 ft; some species exceed 6 ft. Deserts, rocky outcrops, grasslands, and woodland edges, depending on species.
It has been recorded in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Guyana.
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: Yucatán Neotropical Rattlesnake
- Is the Yucatán Neotropical Rattlesnake venomous?
- Yes. The Yucatán Neotropical Rattlesnake (Crotalus tzabcan) 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 Yucatán Neotropical Rattlesnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Yucatán Neotropical Rattlesnake is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Yucatán 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 Yucatán Neotropical Rattlesnake live?
- The Yucatán Neotropical Rattlesnake has verified records in 4 countries, including Mexico, Belize, Guatemala. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Yucatán Neotropical Rattlesnake?
- Heavy body, broad triangular head, vertical (cat-like) pupils, and a segmented keratin rattle at the tail tip.
- How big does the Yucatán Neotropical Rattlesnake get?
- Typically 2–5 ft; some species exceed 6 ft.
If you are bitten by the Yucatán 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
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. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.