Photo credit:

Ricardo Ramírez Chaparro of HERP.MX
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Common name

Cerralvo rattlesnake

Scientific name

Crotalus enyo cerralvensis

Conservation Status

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Federal and State Protections

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Countries of Occurrence

Mexico

States or Providence 

Baja California

Counties

Isla Ceralvo

Adult size

1.5-2.5 feet

Species Description

This 1.5-2.5 ft long rattlesnake is only found on Isla Ceralvo, also known as Pearl Island for its history. The species feeds on lizards, mammals, and sometimes centipedes regardless of their size rather than switching from lizards to mammals as most rattlesnakes do. Cerralvo rattlesnakes give birth to 2-7 young, and neonates can be found between July and October.

Fun fact: This little-known rattlesnake was last suggested to be elevated to full-species status by Beaman and Grismer, 1994. This recommendation is because of its larger head to body ratio than the other subspecies of this snake and because it is not currently exchanging genes with the mainland subspecies. Based on our research, it has not yet been categorized as its own species.