Crotalus thalassoporus

Crotalus thalassoporus, or the Louse Island speckled rattlesnake, is a species of rattlesnake from Piojo Island, Baja California, Mexico. The species is named after the Greek word for 'Seafaring' in reference to the assumed overseas dispersal from Piojo Island to Smith Island.^[1] As with all rattlesnakes, it is venomous.^[2]

Crotalus thalassoporus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Crotalus
Species:	C. thalassoporus
Binomial name
Crotalus thalassoporus Meik et al., 2018

Only separated from mainland species by rising oceans within the past 10 thousand years, C. thalassoporus displays rapid dwarfism of its species from when it was split off.^[1]

Description

Crotalus thalassoporus can be distinguished from other similar snakes, such as C. mitchellii, C. pyrrhus, C. angelensis and C. polisi, by its specific scale and scale row counts as well as its beige/pink colouration, 27–40 rusty blotches, faint speckling, 3–5 tail bands and generally smaller size.^[1]

Reproduction

Crotalus thalassoporus is known to be viviparous.^[2]