Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just found this little guy about a mile from my house near Temecula, Ca (Inland Southern California). He has a white belly with black spots & dashes.

I catch, reliease, & photograph mainly Crotulus Atrox & the occational Crotalus scutulatus, but this is the first time I have seen this species. He looks to me like Sistrurus catenatus, or Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii.

What do you guys think?

file:///C:/Users/Anthony/bar/Pictures/2009-10-03 Pics/Pics 251.jpg

file:///C:/Users/Anthony/bar/Pictures/2009-10-03 Pics/Pics 249.jpg

file:///C:/Users/Anthony/bar/Pictures/2009-10-03 Pics/Pics 257.jpg

file:///C:/Users/Anthony/bar/Pictures/2009-10-03 Pics/Pics 251.jpg

Sorry, First time posting pictures. Lets see if this works.

Image

Head Study

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/160250Pics_259.jpg

Image

Looks like a Southern Pacific,Crotalus oreganus helleri.

I think it's a Southern Pacific too. No way could it be any type of Sistrurus with that huge blockhead. And the vivid pattern would also be very typical of a neonate Southern.

Here is a juvenile that basically looks identical as well.

~Doug

-----
"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Just confirming that is just a typical young Southern Pacific.

Sistrurus barely make it into eastern AZ. They don't get anywhere near CA.

Here's a Sistrurus catenatus from west Central TX. They look the same further west as well.

-----
Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas