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==Distribution== |
==Distribution== |
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[[File:Agkistrodon taylori distribution.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Distribution of ''Agkistrodon taylori'': circle = type locality of ''A. taylori''; square = type locality of ''A. bilineatus lemosespinali'']] |
[[File:Agkistrodon taylori distribution.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Distribution of ''Agkistrodon taylori'': circle = type locality of ''A. taylori''; square = type locality of ''A. bilineatus lemosespinali'']] |
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Agkistrodon taylori is [[endemic]] to [[Mexico]]. It occurs primarily in southern [[Tamaulipas]],<ref name="Burchfield (1982)">Burchfield, Patrick M. 1982. ''Additions to the Natural History of the Crotaline Snake Agkistrodon bilineatus taylori.'' Journal of Herpetology.Vol. 16, No. 4: 376-382.</ref> with one record near the coast as far north as Carboneras.<ref name="Farr et al. (2013)">Farr, William L., David Lazcano and Pablo A. Lavin-Murcio. 2013. ''New Distributional Records for Amphibians and Reptiles from the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico III.'' Herpetological Review 44(4): 631-645</ref> Elevations typically range from near sea level to about 500 m., with a maximum elevation of 919 m. in [[San Luis Potosi]].<ref name="Gloyd & Conant (1990)">Gloyd, H. K. and R. Conant. 1990. ''Snakes of the Agkistrodon Complex, A Monographic Review.'' Contributions to Herpetology, Number 6. Society for the Study Amphibians and Reptiles. vi, 614 pp. {{ISBN|0-916984-20-6}}</ref>{{rp|101 p.}} The [[Type locality (biology)|type locality]] is "21 km north of Villagrán, Tamaulipas, Mexico".<ref name="Burger & Robertson (1951)" /> It has been speculated that ''A. taylori'' occurs in the [[Sierra de San Carlos]], based on the local inhabitants identifying photographs<ref name="Burchfield (1982)" /> |
Agkistrodon taylori is [[endemic]] to [[Mexico]]. It occurs primarily in southern [[Tamaulipas]],<ref name="Burchfield (1982)">Burchfield, Patrick M. 1982. ''Additions to the Natural History of the Crotaline Snake Agkistrodon bilineatus taylori.'' Journal of Herpetology.Vol. 16, No. 4: 376-382.</ref> with one record near the coast as far north as Carboneras.<ref name="Farr et al. (2013)">Farr, William L., David Lazcano and Pablo A. Lavin-Murcio. 2013. ''New Distributional Records for Amphibians and Reptiles from the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico III.'' Herpetological Review 44(4): 631-645</ref> Elevations typically range from near sea level to about 500 m., with a maximum elevation of 919 m. in [[San Luis Potosi]].<ref name="Gloyd & Conant (1990)">Gloyd, H. K. and R. Conant. 1990. ''Snakes of the Agkistrodon Complex, A Monographic Review.'' Contributions to Herpetology, Number 6. Society for the Study Amphibians and Reptiles. vi, 614 pp. {{ISBN|0-916984-20-6}}</ref>{{rp|101 p.}} The [[Type locality (biology)|type locality]] is "21 km north of Villagrán, Tamaulipas, Mexico".<ref name="Burger & Robertson (1951)" /> It has been speculated that ''A. taylori'' occurs in the [[Sierra de San Carlos]], based on the local inhabitants identifying photographs,<ref name="Burchfield (1982)" /> however no confirmed records from the mountain range are available.<ref name="Farr et al. (2013)" /> |
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There are also a few of scattered records from lower elevations on the eastern slopes and canyons of the [[Sierra Madre Oriental]]. These include a number of records from [[Nuevo Leon]] as far north as [[Monterrey]],<ref name="Burchfield (1982)" /> south to the vicinity of [[El Naranjo, San Luis Potosi|El Naranjo]], [[San Luis Potosi]], <ref name="Gloyd & Conant (1990)" />{{rp|100 p.}} [[Atlapexco]]<ref name="Tovar-Tovar & Mendoza-Quijano (2001)">Tovar-Tovar, Hector and Fernando Mendoza-Quijano. 2001. ''Agkistrodon taylori.'' .Herpetological Review. Vol. 32, No. 4: 276-277.</ref> and [[Huejutla de Reyes]], [[Hidalgo (state)|Hidalgo]], and near [[Tantoyuca]], [[Veracruz State|Verecruz]].<ref name="Bryson & Mendoza-Quijano (2007)">Bryson, Jr., Robert W. and Fernando Mendoza-Quijano. 2007. ''Cantils of Hidalgo and Veracruz, Mexico, with Comments on the Validity of Agkistrodon bilineatus lemosespinali.'' Journal of Herpetology.41(3): 536-539.</ref> |
There are also a few of scattered records from lower elevations on the eastern slopes and canyons of the [[Sierra Madre Oriental]]. These include a number of records from [[Nuevo Leon]] as far north as [[Monterrey]],<ref name="Burchfield (1982)" /> south to the vicinity of [[El Naranjo, San Luis Potosi|El Naranjo]], [[San Luis Potosi]], <ref name="Gloyd & Conant (1990)" />{{rp|100 p.}} [[Atlapexco]]<ref name="Tovar-Tovar & Mendoza-Quijano (2001)">Tovar-Tovar, Hector and Fernando Mendoza-Quijano. 2001. ''Agkistrodon taylori.'' .Herpetological Review. Vol. 32, No. 4: 276-277.</ref> and [[Huejutla de Reyes]], [[Hidalgo (state)|Hidalgo]], and near [[Tantoyuca]], [[Veracruz State|Verecruz]].<ref name="Bryson & Mendoza-Quijano (2007)">Bryson, Jr., Robert W. and Fernando Mendoza-Quijano. 2007. ''Cantils of Hidalgo and Veracruz, Mexico, with Comments on the Validity of Agkistrodon bilineatus lemosespinali.'' Journal of Herpetology.41(3): 536-539.</ref> |
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Agkistrodon |
| Species: |
A. taylori
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| Binomial name | |
| Agkistrodon taylori | |
| Synonyms[2][3] | |
Agkistrodon taylori, cammonly called Taylor's cantil[4] is a venomous pitviper species found only in northeastern Mexico. It is named in honor of American herpetologist Edward Harrison Taylor.[5]
The original description states that the specific, or trivial name, was "Named for Dr. Edward H. Taylor in recognition of his many contributions to our knowledge of the Mexican herpetofauna."[6]: 213 p. Indeed, Taylor's extensive publications on Mexico's amphibians and reptiles, culminating with the "Herpetology of Mexico",[7] published in collaboration with his student Hobart M. Smith, is the foundation of modern Mexican herpetology. Taylor's work on Mexico alone would have secured him a prominent reputation in the field of herpetology. However, Taylor made equally important contribution to Philippine land mammals, the herpetofauna of the Philippines, herpetofauna of the south-central United States, Eumeces (skinks of the world at that time), the herpetofauna of Costa Rica, the herpetofauna of Thailand, and caecilians of the world.[8] : 145 p. [9]: 83 p.
This taxon was elevated to species status (A. taylori ) by Parkinson, Zamudio and Greene (2000) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences.
Agkistrodon taylori is a vertebrate in the subfamily Crotalinae.
Adults of A. taylori usually attain a total length (including tail) of 64–90 cm (25+1⁄4–35+3⁄8 in), with some growing to 96 cm (37+3⁄4 in). The species has a heavy body and a relatively long tail: 16-19% of total body length in males and 13-18% in females.[10]
Agkistrodon taylori is endemictoMexico. It occurs primarily in southern Tamaulipas,[11] with one record near the coast as far north as Carboneras.[12] Elevations typically range from near sea level to about 500 m., with a maximum elevation of 919 m. in San Luis Potosi.[13]: 101 p. The type locality is "21 km north of Villagrán, Tamaulipas, Mexico".[6] It has been speculated that A. taylori occurs in the Sierra de San Carlos, based on the local inhabitants identifying photographs,[11] however no confirmed records from the mountain range are available.[12]
There are also a few of scattered records from lower elevations on the eastern slopes and canyons of the Sierra Madre Oriental. These include a number of records from Nuevo Leon as far north as Monterrey,[11] south to the vicinity of El Naranjo, San Luis Potosi, [13]: 100 p. Atlapexco[14] and Huejutla de Reyes, Hidalgo, and near Tantoyuca, Verecruz.[15]
A southernmost record represents a single specimen from near Palma Sola, Veracruz, that was first described as a subspecies, Agkistrodon bilineatus lemosespinali,[16] however more recent accounts considered the defining characters of A. b. lemosespinali fell within the normal range of A. taylor.[10]: 266 p. And yet another more detailed study concluded Agkistrodon bilineatus lemosespinali appeared to be more closely related to, if not the same as, Agkistrodon bilineatus.[15]
The preferred natural habitatsofA. taylori are forest, grassland, and freshwater wetlands.[1]
Information on the diet of wild Taylor's cantils is minimal. The information that is available suggest A. taylori is a diet generalist, similar to other species in the genus. One study found fecal analysis of recently collected snakes contained grasshopper remains and hair from unidentified mammals. Two individuals manually palpated to regurgitate yielded a Mexican pocket mouse (Liomys irroratus = Heteromys irroratus) and a white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus).[11] : 381 p.
Juveniles have been observed using the yellowish tips of their tails as a lure to attract prey, a behavior known as caudal luring and recorded in several species of snakes. "The tail was elevated in a vertical position, approximately four cm (1.5 in) above the snake's body, and the tail tip was being wriggled."[17]
In captivity adults have accepted lab mice, house mice, hamsters, and brown rats, neonates have been fed fish, small frogs, and baby pink mice, and one case of cannibalism has been reported when an adult female consumed an adult male cage mate. [13]: 102 p. [18] : 220 p.
A. tayloriisviviparous.[3]
A. taylori is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001).[1] Species are listed as such due to their wide distribution, presumed large population, or because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The population trend is unknown. Year assessed: 2007.[19]
Because of its attractive coloration and relatively small size, examples of A. taylori are somewhat popular in the exotic pet trade, with captive bred individuals occasionally being available. The care requirements are fairly basic, similar to A. contortrix. This species of snake is, however, not for the inexperienced keeper. The venom of A. taylori is significantly stronger than that of A. contortrix and can cause severe tissue damage and even death if untreated. Dry bites are seldom reported, and A. taylori may strike repeatedly.
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