- Source: Crotalus ehecatl
Crotalus ehecatl, the Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical rattlesnake, is a species of venomous snake in the genus Crotalus found in Mexico.
Etymology
The specific name, ehecatl, comes from the Nahuatl word "Ehēcatl" meaning "the wind" or "Lord of the wind", referring to the Aztec deity associated with wind.
Description
Crotalus ehecatl is a large and heavy-bodied snake, with adults reaching lengths of up to 165.3 cm (approximately 65 inches). The body pattern consists of a series of dark, diamond-shaped blotches on a lighter background, which can vary from gray to brown. The head features a distinctive lance-shaped pattern.
This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males having significantly longer tails than females. The diet consists primarily of mammals, with feeding occurring mainly during the rainy season. Activity patterns are crepuscular and nocturnal during warmer months, and diurnal during cooler months.
Geographical range
The Tehuantepec Isthmus Neotropical rattlesnake is endemic to Mexico, specifically distributed along the Pacific versant from central-south Oaxaca, southward across the Tehuantepec Isthmus to west of Tonalá, Chiapas, and in the Grijalva River basin reaching Comitán, Chiapas. It inhabits tropical deciduous forests and seasonal rainforests, preferring open canopy habitats with rocky outcroppings.
