Queretaran Dusky Rattlesnake

Fascinating facts about the Queretaran Dusky Rattlesnake

• At just 67.8 cm (26.7 in) from tip to tail, the Querétaro dusky rattlesnake reaches its maximum size, yet most adults stay under 50 cm (20 in), and it is described as a compact, heavy-bodied pit viper.
• Its Latin name, aquilus, means “eagle,” referring to the high-altitude plateaus where it lives, among the pine-oak forests and rocky meadows of central Mexico’s highlands.
• You’ll find this snake across five Mexican states, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, México, Michoacán, and San Luis Potosí, particularly north of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, where open grassy and stony mesquite-grasslands occur.
• Even though it inhabits a patchwork of habitats, from open karstic areas to pine-oak woodlands, the species is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, thanks to its broad distribution and presumed large numbers, though a 2007 assessment noted the population was trending downward.

At a glance

About the Queretaran Dusky Rattlesnake

The Querétaro dusky rattlesnake, Crotalus aquilus, is a heavy-bodied pit viper that usually is less than 50 cm long, with a maximum reported total length of 67.8 cm. Its specific name, aquilus, is Latin for “eagle” and refers to the high altitude at which it is found. It inhabits open grassy and rocky areas north of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, as well as pine-oak forest, karstic areas, grassy mountain meadows, and stony mesquite-grassland, and is found in the highlands of central Mexico in Guanajuato, Hidalgo, México, Michoacán, and San Luis Potosí.

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