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Smallest U.S. Rattlesnake?
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by Rob_Carmichael on February 13, 2007
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Tim Cole and I were discussing some things that I need to add to my new website (www.thegrassisrattling.com). In the rattlesnake trivia section, he recommended that I ask "What is the smallest U.S. native rattlesnake". At first, I thought "how easy" but is it really? My first reaction was "Twin Spotted" but Tim mentioned the Desert Massasauga....and, I have to admit, I tend to agree with him. Any other guesses?
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
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RE: Smallest U.S. Rattlesnake?
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by Cro on February 13, 2007
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Rob, I think I would agree with Tim on the Desert Massasauga. Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: Smallest U.S. Rattlesnake?
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by MattHarris on February 14, 2007
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I think you need to be more specific, in terms, of WC vs. Cbb, maximum sizes, recorded sizes, etc. and whose data are you basing it on.
In my experience, the largest female desert massasauga I owned was much bigger than any twin spots, or klauberi I have seen in captivity.
I would suggest basing it only on WC field data, and then cite whose data you are basing it on.
MH
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RE: Smallest U.S. Rattlesnake?
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by earthguy on February 14, 2007
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Rob,
It really doesn't matter which one you put for an answer, somebody will argue with you. Pick one and go with it. This question is sort of like the "which is the most venomous snake" or "what is the most dangerous venomous snake" questions. Anybody with sufficient knowledge in the area could take multiple sides and support them all. The only way to really tell for certain would be to collect sufficient natural history data on ALL locales for both species and then run statistical analyses. I doubt that anyone has done that, and until they do it's just going to be a matter of opinion (my 'data' vs. yours).
Just remember what your webpage is for - educating the general public (correct me if I am wrong). Johnny Citizen is not going to have sufficient grasp of herpetological nuances to know any different. He will just be happy to be learning something new. Maybe, just maybe, that tidbit will make him feel sufficiently close to nature that when he sees that tiny buzztail he'll observe it in awe rather than hacking it to smithereens with a hoe.
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RE: Smallest U.S. Rattlesnake?
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by Rob_Carmichael on February 14, 2007
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Thanks guys, keep the comments coming! Matt, I agree with you 100%. I am coming from the angle of "what data do we have from field collected animals" types of things. Students thirst for knowledge so I want some good data but since so many folks on here spend time in the field, I can lean heavily on observational data. There's exceptions to everything but it's good to hear what everyone has on their mind.
This website (www.thegrassisrattling.com) is meant to have fun, learn a few things, gain a better understanding for the value of rattlesnakes to humans and to the environment, and serve as a resource for teh many students who are completing our rattlesnake conservation education program. So, I can't make it too technical as I am trying to make this more suitable for the "average joe".
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RE: Smallest U.S. Rattlesnake?
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by Buzztail1 on February 14, 2007
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I would like to weigh in on this in favor of the Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius miliarius).
My field guides show them to be roughly the same size as the Desert Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii) with an estimated maximum adult size of about 21 inches for both.
The big difference is that Carolina Pigmies are kept more often in captivity and there is a record size recorded for them of 25 inches.
I do not know the record size for the Desert Massasauga but expect it may be close to the same.
Karl
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RE: Smallest U.S. Rattlesnake?
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by Buzztail1 on February 14, 2007
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Definitely a good possibility, Matt.
My records show that they (S. m. streckeri) average out smaller (~20 inches) but record size at 1/8 inch more than Carolinas (S. m. miliarius).
If it comes down to arguing about 1/8 of an inch ... that would be just ridiculous.
I think an awful lot of people overlook the many very small rattlesnakes that we have in this country that are absolutely beautiful in favor of the (admittedly very impressive) larger species such as the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes, Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes, Timber (including variations previously thought to be subspecies) Rattlesnakes, etc.
The smaller rattlesnakes such as all of the pigmies and massasaugas, sidewinders, rock rattlesnakes, ridge-nosed rattlesnakes, twin-spotted rattlesnakes, and (on the upper end of small U.S. rattlesnakes) the tiger rattlesnake are all beautiful and exciting to observe.
Karl
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RE: Smallest U.S. Rattlesnake?
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by Cro on February 14, 2007
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Rob, you have created a fun topic here.
If we go back to Klauber`s book, we find that of the specimens he measured (and this represents many hundreds of pickled and live wild caught amimals), we have the following results:
Twin Spot Rattlesnake 640 mm
Carolina Pygmy Rattlesanke 535 mm
Western Pygmy Rattlesnake 638 mm
Desert Massasauga 530 mm
Mottled Rock Rattlesnake 715 mm
Banded Rock Rattlesnake 828 mm
Of course, this is from 1972, so, like Matt Said, there are probably changes and differences between then and now, and wild caught and captive sizes.
If we go to a more modern book, like "Campbell and Lamar`s Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere," we get the following which are based on wild caught animals:
Twin Spot Rattlesnake 660 mm
Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake 788 mm
Western Pygmy Rattlesnake 638 mm
Desert Massasauga 588 mm
Mottled Rock Rattlesnake 715 mm
Banded Rock Rattlesnake 828 mm
It is always possible that a captive animal that was fed a lot could exceed these lenghts.
From what I am finding published, it would still seem that the Desert Massasauga would be the smallest American Rattlesnake. The funny thing is that all the Twin Spotted Rattlesnakes I ever found in the wild were smaller than the Desert Massasagas that I found, LOL !
It has always been sort of funny to me that folks always want to label stuff as the largest, smallest, fastest, most venomous, etc.....
I guess you could always say something like "these are the three smallest American Rattlesnakes, and all of them never get more than 18 or 24 inches long," or something like that.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: Smallest U.S. Rattlesnake?
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by Rob_Carmichael on February 14, 2007
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Karl, I completely agree with you. I think the hard core Crotalus folks truly admire and appreciate the smaller species (is there honestly a more handsome rattler than a willardi?) and hopefully, the general public will also find a lot of beauty in these small rattlers. Our "Grass Is Rattling" exhibit (www.thegrassisrattling.com) showcases over 35 species/subspecies of rattlers and most people just naturally gravitate to our big easterns and westerns. But, once they start looking at the smaller exhibits, they quickly realize just how ultra cool these smaller species are. In some ways, they have more interesting behaviors.
So, it looks like it's coming down to two finalists:
- Desert Massasauga
- Carolina Pigmy
Time to vote?
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