BiologyCoachOnlineBlog

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, we wish to shine our spotlight on the Mexican green rattlesnake (Crotalus basiliscus). Not much is known about this pit-viper species native to coastal western Mexico. The specific name is derived from the Greek word for king (basiliskos) and refers to this snake's large size and potent venom (chemically similar to that of the Mojave rattlesnake).

One of the largest rattlesnake species, the Mexican green rattler often exceeds 4.9 feet (150 cm) in length. Its body is moderately stout and rectangular in cross section. The Mexican green rattler is brown or grayish in color with diamond-shaped blotches with light edges. It's head is grayish-brown. The belly is white or cream-colored. The young are mostly red but adults eventually become an olive green. The Mexican green rattler is found in western coastal Mexico from southern Sonora to Michoacán. It's habitat is mostly tropical thorn forest. The Mexican green rattler is primarily active during the rainy summer months and most are found crossing the roads at night. Their primary prey is rodents. This species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.