Crotalus

Crotalus is a genus of venomous pit vipers, commonly known as rattlesnakes or rattlers, in the family Viperidae. The genus is found only in the Americas from southern Canada to northern Argentina. The generic name Crotalus is derived from the Greek word κρόταλον krótalοn, which means "rattle" or "castanet", and refers to the rattle on the end of the tail, which makes this group (genera Crotalus and Sistrurus) so distinctive. As of July 2023, 44 to 53 species are recognized as valid.

Crotalus
Crotalus horridus, the timber rattlesnake
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Crotalinae
Genus: Crotalus
Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
  • Crotalus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Crotalophorus Houttuyn, 1764
  • Caudisona Laurenti, 1768
  • Crotalinus Rafinesque, 1815
  • Crotalurus Rafinesque, 1820
  • Crotulurus Rafinesque, 1820
  • Uropsophus Wagler, 1830
  • Urocrotalon Fitzinger, 1843
  • Aploaspis Cope, 1867
  • Aechmophrys
    Coues In Wheeler, 1875
  • Haploaspis Cope, 1883
  • Paracrotalus Reuss, 1930
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.