Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster

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Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Agkistrodon
Species:
A. contortrix
Subspecies:
A. c. pictigaster
Trinomial name
Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster
Gloyd & Conant, 1943
Synonyms[1]
  • Agkistrodon mokeson pictigaster Gloyd & Conant, 1943
  • Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster
    – Klauber, 1948
  • Ancistrodon contortrix pictigaster
    –
    Schmidt
    , 1953
Common names: Trans-Pecos copperhead, western copperhead

Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster was formerly a

pit viper subspecies[2] found in the Trans-Pecos region of the United States in western Texas, and northeastern Mexico
. However, recent taxonomic changes do not recognize the Trans-Pecos copperhead (A. c. pictigaster) as a valid taxon.

New Taxonomy

The Trans-Pecos copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster)

Agkistrodon contortrix). However, DNA based studies published in 2008 and 2015, revealed no significant genetic difference between the Trans-Pecos copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster) and the broad-banded copperhead, (Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus). The two subspecies were synonymized and elevated to full species, with the oldest published name, Agkistrodon laticinctus, having priority. The resulting taxonomy does not recognize the Trans-Pecos copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster) as a valid taxon.[4][5] Several subsequent reviews and species accounts have followed and supported the revised taxonomy.[6][7]: 436 p. [8] Information on this snake can be found in the Agkistrodon laticinctus
article.

Description

This subspecies is typically a light tan in color, with darker brown, wide crossbands. Their actual color varies by locality, varying from a red-brown, to a gray-brown. The species can be difficult to distinguish from the broad-banded copperhead,

intergrade where their ranges overlap, further confusing identification. It is easily distinguished from other subspecies of copperhead, in that other species typically have banding that narrows at the spine, creating hourglass shapes, whereas A. c. pictigaster has bands that do not narrow at the spine. They grow to approximately 20-36 inches (50–90 cm) in length. As juveniles, all species of Agkistrodon have a bright green-yellow color to their tail
tip believed to be used as a lure to attract prey items to approach within striking range. The color fades to a grey or brown at about a year of age.

Behavior

Like all A. contortrix subspecies, A. c. pictigaster is a

nocturnal ambush predator. Their diet consists of primarily lizards, frogs, and rodents. Their choice of habitat is the driest among the copperhead subspecies, preferring rocky, lightly vegetated, canyon areas. They are ovoviviparous
, giving birth to a litter of up to 8 young in the early fall.

Venom

Like most

CroFab, which makes use of the venom from the cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus
), can be used in cases of a severe envenomation.

References

  1. ISBN 1-893777-01-4
    (volume).
  2. ^ "Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 15 May 2007.
  3. ISBN 0-395-19977-8
    (pb).
  4. ^ Guiher TJ, Burbrink FT (2008). Demographic and phylogeographic histories of two venomous North American snakes of the genus Agkistrodon. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 48: 543–553.
  5. ^ Burbrink, Frank T. and Timothy J. Guiher. 2014. Considering gene flow when using coalescent methods to delimit lineages of North American pitvipers of the genus Agkistrodon. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 173: 505–526.
  6. ISBN 978-1-946681-00-3
  7. ISBN 978-0-544-12997-9
  8. ^ Uetz P, Freed P, Aguilar R, Hošek J (editors) (2021). The Reptile Database, Agkistrodon laticinctus (accessed 30 August 2021)

External links

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