Maximum Altitude of Snakes - Experts Forum at VenomousReptiles.org

Maximum Altitude of Snakes	Reply
by sambam on August 24, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
I was wondering if anyone knew the maximum altitude that snakes live at. I bought some land in Colorado at about 9000 ft in altitude and the agent said that there were no snakes due to the altitude. Is this a fair assumtion, or should I be concerned?

RE: Maximum Altitude of Snakes	Reply
by Phobos on August 24, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
He is correct. Studies puplished By Lawrence Klauber, stated that Rattlesnakes were seldom found much about 7,000 feet in altitude. I would imaging that at or above 9,000 feet MSL finding a Rattlesnake would be very close to zero. Al

RE: Maximum Altitude of Snakes	Reply
by paleoherp on August 24, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
hi most peaple on this site are american so alot of there expertise is based on american reptiles , i ll tell you what i know about snakes at high altitudes,rubber boas have been found around 10,000 feet ,smooth green snakes around 9500 feet, california mountin kingsnakes around 9000 feet , as well as sonoran kingsnakes.rock rattle snakes have been found around 9600 feet,western rattle snakes have been found up to 11,000 feet !! twin spotted rattle snakes around 10,500 feet.these snakes in america have been found higher then 9000 feet. in europe grass snakes reach these type of altitudes , smooth snakes, orsini s viper and adders are all found at high altitudes but asp vipers reach 3000 feet. obviously any where mountins are snakes are found high, such as in africa, borneo , malaysia, some rattle snakes such as mexican small headed rattle snakes still can be found over 3000 meters, black tailed rattle snakes rarely exceed 2550 meters though they have been found near the 2930 mark, so snakes can be found higher then expected , hope this helps this is from the back of my head and i answeard it quikly so i hope its good enough. SHAUN

RE: Maximum Altitude of Snakes	Reply
by paleoherp on August 24, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
hi i said asp vipers reach 3000 feet i ment meters sorry i told you it was quik i was in a rush.

RE: Maximum Altitude of Snakes	Reply
by AquaHerp on August 24, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Crotalus triseriatus of central Mexico can be found at elevations of 15,000 ft. The Agkistrodon himalayanus (naturally of the Himalayas, LOL) can be found at elevations of over 16,000 ft.

RE: Maximum Altitude of Snakes	Reply
by Phobos on August 26, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Hey guys: How about some references for your information provided. I've looked on the web over the past few days and could not find any information to back up your posts. Also the man asked regarding his land in Colorado USA and as far as I know the altitude limit for rattlers found in Colorado is about 7,000 msl. Thanks, Al

RE: Maximum Altitude of Snakes	Reply
by paleoherp on August 26, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
hi i realize that he was asking about snakes in colorado but i was giving him some examples of snakes found higher the 9000 feet , any feild guide book that you buy will tell you about the altitude that they are found ( well most of them ) western reptiles and amphibians of north america by robert c stebbins is a good one which will tell you about snakes in colorado , the other information about the asp viper is from reptiles and amphibians of europe , aquaherp said about agkistrodon himalayanus the field gude to reptiles and amphibian will explain about that. thanks shaun

RE: Maximum Altitude of Snakes	Reply
by paleoherp on August 26, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
for references about agkistrodon himalayanus check out field guide to reptiles and amphibians of nepal.

RE: Maximum Altitude of Snakes	Reply
by Phobos on August 26, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
Hi Shaun: I'll look at my guide as well as Klaubers two volumn work on Rattlesnakes when I get home. I know many snakes are cold tolerant ie: V. berus but really never gave it much thought. I will have to do some additional reading on the subject. Thanks, Al

RE: Maximum Altitude of Snakes	Reply
by AquaHerp on August 26, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
My mistake. I have a habit of reading things wrong. I simply read "Maixmum altitude" and for some reason bypassed the Colorado part. I recently talked to someone in CO. than ran across a viridis crossing the road one evening at an elevation of around 9,000 ft. I understand that they hover right around 9-9,500 in that State as a maximum. But then again I don't know that for certain. Just based on what I have heard from a few herpers I have known in the area. I wouldn't expect them to be abundant in that zone by any means.

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