About Crotalus culminatus Klauber, 1952
Commonly known as the Northwestern Neotropical rattlesnake, Crotalus culminatus is a large rattlesnake species. Adult individuals reach lengths between 100 and 180 cm, which is approximately 39 to 71 inches. It has a heavy body covered in strongly keeled scales. Its base coloration is creamy yellow, which shifts to gray toward the tail. It has diamond-shaped black markings along its back, and longitudinal lines on its neck. This species produces myotoxic-hemotoxic venom. This venom can cause hemorrhaging, and induce localized paralysis through muscle damage. While it is less deadly to humans than some of its close relatives, it can still cause significant harm. Crotalus culminatus is distributed across most of southwestern Mexico. It inhabits a broad range of elevations, from near sea level up to 2285 meters in the Sierra de Coalcomán. It can live in arid environments, tropical scrub forests, savannas, and mesic forests, and rocky outcroppings are a core requirement of its habitat.
