Scientific Name: Sistrurus catenatus catenatus
Size: 18-40 inches (45-100 cm) in length
PA Status: Endangered Species – Only 5 known populations in PA
PAHERP Resource: Buzz in the Prairie

Habitat Type:
Swamps, marshes, bogs, peat lands, wet meadows, prairie lands, low lying poorly drained soil, dry open fields with lots of vegetation. The habitat will vary with seasons. Spring & fall they can be found in the wetter habitats, and summer they may be found in dry habitats.

Colorations:
Adults:

• The dorsal background is grey to greyish brown.
• The dorsal has rows of large irregular shaped middorsal blotches in conjunction with three rows of small round spots on both sides of the body. (some individuals may be striped)
• The blotches are dark brown to black with a black border and a white outline.
• The tail has alternating dark and light bands that is ringed rather than blotched.
• The ventral is dark grey to black and may be mottles with grey to black botches.
• The head has two dark light bordered stripes on each side that extend from the eye to the neck and a middorsal stripe extending posteriorly on the back of the head. The top of the head has varying dark blotches.

Juveniles:

• Similar to adults

Characteristics:

• Medium-sized, stout-bodied species.
• The head is large, flat and triangular in shape.
• The head is distinct and set off from the body by a narrow neck.
• Pupils are vertically elliptical.
• Deep set pits between the eyes and nostrils.
• The dorsal scales are strongly keeled.

Scale Counts:

• 21-27 scale rows at midbody.
• 23 scale rows at anterior.
• 17-19 scale rows at posterior.
• 139-160 ventral scales
• 19-36 subcaudals scales | Single row of subcaudals
• Higher than wide rostral scale
• 2 internasal scales
• 2 prefrontal scales
• 1 large frontal scale
• 2 supraocular
• 2 pariental scales
• 2 nasal scales
• 1 loreal scale
• 1-2 subocular scales
• 3-4 postocular scales
• 11-12 supralabials
• 11-13 infralabials
• Anal plate is undivided

Confused with:

• Timber Rattlesnake
• Juvenile Rat Snakes, Northern Water Snake, Hognose Snakes

Coloration/Pattern Photos:
Adults

Juveniles

Range Map:

References:

• Hulse, C. and McCoy C. J. and Ellen Censky ,1998. Amphibians and Reptiles of Pennsylvania and the Northeast. 356-359pp.
• Ernst, Carl H. and Ernst, Evelyn M. ,2003. Snakes of the United States and Canada. 551-557pp.

Photo Credits:

• Wayne Fidler
• Tom Diez
• Jason Poston