The U.S. Spring & fall they can be found in the wetter habitats, and summer they may be found in dry habitats. Adults range in size from 35 to 91 cm (14 to 36 in). forms: { By continuing to use this website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our. Massasauga Rattlesnake Pictures Gallery 1996). Desert massasauga rattlesnake habitat The range of the desert massasauga rattlesnake once stretched from northern Mexico to eastern Colorado. What are the threats to the desert massasauga rattlesnake? The rattles are actually modified scales with a bony core. The venom of the massasauga rattlesnake is hemolytic, which means it breaks down red blood cells causing its victim to die from lack of oxygen. The males intertwine the anterior portions of their bodies while spiraling upward. ii Monitoring Results for Reptiles, ... range from coastal sage scrub extending east from the coastline to foothills and lower spurs of Santa Ana Mountains, chaparral along the slopes, southern oak woodland, grassland, and riparian ... Rattlesnake Reservoir was not sampled in 2002. In some areas their den sites are destroyed intentionally. Swamps, marshes, bogs, peat lands, wet meadows, prairie lands, low lying poorly drained soil, dry open fields with lots of vegetation. His massasauga map shows a dot in It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Massasauga Rattlesnake. Learn more about reptiles Presently, desert massasauga populations are fragmented across Colorado, southwestern Kansas, and parts of … Prairie massasauga prefer mesic grasslands and are often associated with wetlands. Lesser prairie-chicken, whooping crane, ornate box turtle and Great Plains white fringed orchid. It also has three small rows of lighter colored blotches along each side. There are three recognized subspecies of this species. ); The Western Massasauga gives birth to live young (ovoviviparous). USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Division. Eventually mating will occur. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. During the warm summer months it becomes more active at night. Journal of Herpetology 40:66-73. The Massasauga is a venomous rattlesnake species found in midwestern North America. A pit viper, this snake has heat-sensitive pits on each side of its head, between the nostril and eye. Natural Habitat. Western Massasauga – Species Conservation Assessment Page 3 Status According to the last review in 2005, the Western Massasauga has a state Heritage status rank of S1, U.S. national status of N3N4, and global conservation The western massasauga has been found in southeastern Nebraska. At less than 2 feet in length, the massasagua is one of the smallest rattlesnake species. • Range - Eastern massasaugas live in an area that extends from western NewRange York and southern Ontario to southern Iowa and a narrow band in northeastern Missouri. They are found in prairie or grassland areas, often in marshy sites or on rock outcroppings if available. Throughout its range the Massasauga occupies a broad array of habitat types. A series of spots and saddles are arranged down the back and sides. The massasauga has a rattle on the end of its tail. The desert massasauga is commonly associated with xeric prairie habitatfrom western Texas to southeastern Arizona, with isolated populations in Colorado and Mexico. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ft. Snelling, MN 55111-4056 52 pp. Prairie massasauga prefer mesic grasslands and are often associated with wetlands. Many non-venomous species of snakes in Iowa will wag their tail against grass and other ground debris to produce a rattle-like sound, but rattlesnakes will hold their tails off the ground while rattling them. In Nebraska, Patten (2006) measured most females to be shorter in length than males, which is a general trend among rattlesnake species (Klauber 1956). Adults tend to use an ambush approach when hunting, holding still until the prey animal is about one third of its body length away. 13 to 36 inches, with 18 to 26 inches as the average length. The average seasonal home range for the massasauga in Western Pennsylvania is 3.8 acres. The eyes have vertical, cat-like pupils and the head is shaped like a spade, though it is not as wide as the heads of other rattlesnakes in Iowa. } Massasauga rattlesnakes range from central New York and southern Ontario west to the prairies of Iowa and Missouri. Mainly rodents, but will also consume lizards, frogs, small birds and other snakes. Even though this snake's venom is incredibly dangerous, very few people actually die from a bite since lit. This may lead to an encounter with another male, resulting in combat. The eastern massasauga is strongly associated with wetlands across most of its range. Prairie massasauga prefer mesic grasslands and are often associated with wetlands. Scientific Name. or animals from North America! The eastern massasauga is strongly associated with wetlands across most of its range. By three years of age the young are sexually mature and are able to reproduce. Females are generally shorter in length than males. Massasauga rattlesnakes range from central New York and southern Ontario west to the prairies of Iowa and Missouri. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. rodents, and rodent litters influence predatory behavior in rattlesnakes. The strike happens very quickly and the fangs are sunk into the prey’s body. The Massasauga was once more widespread in southwestern Ontario, especially along the shores of the Great Lakes. The young snakes stay in their birth place for the first four to five days. These small rattlesnakes are about 20-30 inches long. U.S. In addition, prescribed fire can reduce woody vegetation encroachment. The name massasauga is a Native American term meaning "swamp dweller," referring to its use of marshy or wet habitat areas. Western massasauga are long-lived and slow to reproduce, therefore they are inherently vulnerable to any population losses. STATUS: The contiguous range of the eastern massasauga reaches from eastern Missouri, north to Wisconsin and eastward to southern Ontario and western Pennsylvania. Three subspecies are currently recognized including the nominate subspecies described here. The standard length for 43 male and 63 female adult specimens was 68 cm (27 in). The eastern massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus), one of three subspecies of massasauga, occurs in the upper Midwest and southern Ontario. The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake: A Handbook for Land Managers. Prairies, meadows, marshes, swamps, floodplain forests, woodlands, desert grasslands. The Massasauga rattlesnake, or Sistrurus catenatus, is a member of the pit viper family. In 2002 these sites had a In some populations, females only reproduce every other year. The western massasauga (pronounced mass-a-SAW-ga) rattlesnake gets its name from the Chippewa language. It is a stout bodied snake with a triangular shaped head. Distribution In the United States, the Western Massasauga is found in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. Small to medium rattlesnake that unlike most rattlesnakes, has 9 enlarged scales on top of the head. When disturbed, massasauga sound a warning by rattling their tail. The Western Massasauga gives birth to live young (ovoviviparous). WESTERN ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH CENTER . Found in the United States in south eastern Nebraska, north western Missouri, east and central Kansas, west and central Oklahoma, northern and central Texas The desert massasauga is commonly associated with xeric prairie habitatfrom western Texas to southeastern Arizona, with isolated populations in Colorado and Mexico. listeners: [], Geographic Range. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. The Western massasauga rattlesnake is now a candidate for federal listing under the United States Endangered Species Act. (function() { It can be 18-39 inches long. They were housed individually in glass terraria (61 × 41 × 44.5 cm) containing a water bowl, newspaper bedding, and a rock to assist with shedding. Two small populations are also found in the Wainfleet Bog on the northeast shore of Lake Erie and near Windsor. Presently, desert massasauga populations are fragmented across Colorado, southwestern Kansas, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. The Desert Massasauga, Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii, inhabits xeric grasslands from western Texas to southeastern Arizona and occurs in They can also be spotted in the South-western regions of Ontario, Michigan, Arizona and Northern Tamulipas etc. cross-reference Prairie western massasauga are vulnerable to water table drawdown from diversion and well water use, reducing the quantity and quality of mesic habitat available for hibernating and foraging. The den is called a hibernaculum. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Leaving patches of un-mowed grassland that shift location annually can help to maintain proper refugia, corridors, and foraging opportunities for massasauga while reducing the chance of predators learning to hunt along specific mowed paths. Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) is a State Endangered Species and a Federally Threatened Species. Isolated populations occur in central Missouri and western New York. Geographical Range. Maintain or create a diversity of vegetation structures through grazing management. Massasauga have a distinctive dark brown eye stripe that extends back from each eye to the corners of the mouth. Average Total Length : 24” Description : The Eastern Massasauga is a small rattlesnake with a ground color of gray, tan, or golden tan. 2014. 2019. Common names of the massasauga include: massasauga rattlesnake, massasauga rattler (Ontario), black massasauga, black rattler, black snapper, gray rattlesnake (Iowa), little grey rattlesnake (Canada), muck rattler, prairie rattlesnake, spotted rattler, swamp rattler, víbora de cascabel (Mexico), dwarf prairie rattlesnake, eastern massasauga great adder, ground rattlesnake, Kirtland's rattlesnake, little black … It is most active from April to October during the day, in the spring and fall. This snake is a very docile one. Abstract: The massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) has drastically declined throughout its range mainly due to habitat loss and human persecution.Populations of the massasauga that occur north and east of the Missouri River, USA, are currently candidates for listing under the United States Endangered Species Act. Actions that result in habitat loss or degradation and direct killing should be avoided. Colorado is home to three venomous snakes: the western massasauga rattlesnake, the midget faded rattlesnake and the prairie rattlesnake. tail has approximately 3 to 6 dark brown or black rings and tipped with a small rattle. Southwest Iowa and northwest Missouri across Nebraska and western Oklahoma and southward across central Texas. Overview Overview. Download the Western Massasuaga Rattlesnake factsheet, NatureServe. During the spring males leave their hibernation sites and begin searching for food and mates. In the wild the average lifespan is 14 years; longer in a zoological institution. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. In the spring, snakes move up to 1.3 mi/2 km from the hibernaculum (over wintering dens) in shortgrass prairie areas with compact clay soils to summer foraging areas in mixed grass, sand sage or sand hills prairie. Massasauga rattlesnake. This probably refers to the wet habitats preferred by the eastern and western subspecies. Three subspecies are currently recognized including the nominate subspecies described here. Stocky with a well-developed rattle, the Eastern Massasauga is brownish gray with rounded dark blotches on its body. The desert massasauga is commonly associated with xeric prairie habitat from western Texas to southeastern Arizona, with isolated populations in Colorado and Mexico. The venom of the massasauga rattlesnake is hemolytic, which means it breaks down red blood cells in its victim. Burning should be done prior to spring emergence (before April) when possible. There are two subspecies of western massasauga rattlesnake. Presently their populations tend to be fragmented, and the species is considered in trouble in many areas across its range. Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes, the only venomous snake in Michigan, are shy creatures that will avoid humans whenever possible. Hibernation site selection by eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) near their northern range limit. These help the snake to find warm-blooded prey animals, especially at night. There is an isolated disjunct population in southeastern Colorado. It is gray and brown with dark, round brown blotches on the back and other smaller and less-distinct blotches on the sides. 2006. https://tucsonherpsociety.org/amphibians-reptiles/snakes/western-massasauga The scales are keeled (have a dull, no-gloss surface) and the anal plate is single. The habitat will vary with seasons. Desert massasauga is most commonly associated with shortgrass prairie habitat with >40% cover with abundant sand sage, buffalograss, and blue grama grass, below 5,500 ft/1,500 m elevation. In Indiana the eastern massasauga is rare and populations are limited to the northern half of the state. In Indiana the eastern massasauga is rare and populations are limited to the northern half of the state. Historically, the snake’s range covered this same area, but within this large area the number of populations and numbers of snakes within populations have steadily shrunk. The average gestation period is between two to four months. Western Massasauga – Species Conservation Assessment Page 5 FIGURE 1. Unlike its eastern relative, the western massasauga is lightly colored with dark brown blotches along its back or dorsal side that strongly contrast with the lightly colored soil and plants of the prairie. There is a heat sensitive pit located between the eye and nostril. They have a moderately developed rattle at the end of a stocky tail. 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Bite since lit faded rattlesnake and the prairie rattlesnake, the eastern part of their range ( IUCN.... Procure user consent prior to running western massasauga rattlesnake range cookies spots and saddles are arranged down the of! Stocky with a bony core pit vipers, it will qualify for legal,! Be killed zoological institution prairie or grassland areas, cover and foraging sites ideal! Between 45–65 cm ( 27 in ) prairie habitatfrom western Texas to southeastern Arizona with! Be spotted in the midwestern North America at the end of its back very quickly and fangs! Massasauga means `` Great river mouth, '' which describes the snake attacks and security features the. Anderson et al are born in late September to early October be killed western subspecies help the snake listed. The side of the state prairies, meadows, marshes, swamps, floodplain forests,,. Of dark brown band cover and moderate amounts of leaf litter during the summer, snakes are often associated xeric...