Southern Pigmy Rattlesnake

Sistrurus miliarius, (Linn.)

Colouration: Dark ashy gray, with a series of large, black blotches on the back, these irregularly rounded and separated--on the central portion of the back--by reddish spaces. The reddish, broken line, is more prominent on the forward portion of the body. On the sides are several series of black spots, smaller and less distinct than those on the back. The tail is usually reddish.
Dimensions: The Southern Pigmy Rattlesnake, or Florida Ground Rattlesnake as it is often called, is the smallest species of rattler inhabiting the United States. Measurements are given of an adult specimen, captured in Marion County, Florida:
Distribution: Central North Carolina southward throughout Florida, thence along the coastal region of the Gulf of Mexico to Texas. The range extends inland up the Mississippi River valley and the valley of the larger, Southern tributaries. Dr. Stejneger explains: "Curiously enough, it seems to be more common on the western side of the great river, being apparently common in Arkansas and Indian Territory even as far west as central Oklahoma, whence the National Museum has a young specimen collected by Dr. Edward Palmer at Old Fort Cobb."
Habits: Owing to its diminutive size, this species is the least formidable of the North American Crotaline Snakes. By many, however, it has been argued that the Coral Snake, (Elaps fulvius), should be placed last on the list as regards the virulency of the bites of venomous serpents inhabiting the United States. The writer cannot agree with this contention. Although the fangs of the Coral Snake may be smaller than the weapons of the Pigmy Rattlesnake, the former serpent is provided with a more powerful poison which makes up for the deficiency in size of the venom conducting teeth and possibly a smaller amount of poison discharged from them.

A very small species, though stout of form, with distinct, flattened head. The body tapers gradually to a thin tail, which is provided with a minute rattle.

Beneath, this species is white, thickly marbled with black spots and blotches.

The large head shields at once distinguish this small Rattlesnake from the young of other species that inhabit the southeastern United States.

Total Length . . . . . 17 inches.

Length of Tail, exclusive of the rattle . . . . . 2 inches.

Greatest Diameter of Body . . . . . 5/8 inches.

Width of Head . . . . . 9/16 inches.

Length of Head . . . . . 13/16 inches.

Length of Rattle, 6 segments . . . . . 3/8 inches.

The length of the tail should be noted. It is proportionately very long for a Rattlesnake. The rattle of this species seldom exceeds six segments.

The species is most abundant in Florida.

The late Dr. C. Slover Allen, whose fondness for snakes, particularly the rattlesnakes, resulted in the maintenance of quite a collection of these creatures, once described to the writer his experience after a bite from a Pigmy Rattlesnake. Dr. Allen said:

"I was placing the snake in a bag, holding the reptile by the neck, when my forefinger slipped and the little creature took instant advantage by turning and burying both fangs in my thumb. I was so used to handling the big 'Diamond-backs' that the bite did not greatly alarm me. Taking an elastic band, I at once applied this as a ligature at the base of the thumb and then opened both fang punctures with a razor, to a greater depth than the teeth had actually gone. I alternately sucked and washed out the wound, applied a solution of permanganate of potash and finally applied a wet, antiseptic bandage. Then I removed the ligature. The thumb throbbed painfully as did the wrist and a portion of my hand was badly swollen, but a day or two afterwards these local symptoms passed away. I attributed my escape from more serious consequences to the almost immediate scarification, application of the ligature and washing of the wounds."

So small is the rattle of this species, that its whirring can be distinguished but the distance of a few feet--about eight feet at most with a full-grown specimen, and barely a yard away from a half-grown snake. When annoyed this little snake will throw its body into a fighting coil and sound its tiny rattle, giving vent to its anger by a series of vicious jabs in the direction of the disturbance. The writer found this species to be moderately common in very dry and sandy areas in South Carolina. These situations were called the "sand hills" by the natives. While collecting there the heat was found to be almost unendurable during the middle of a June day. The vegetation consisted principally of scrub oak, varying from a yard to six feet in height. Burrows of the gopher tortoise were numerous and in these some of the snakes took refuge.

Unlike the majority of the rattlesnakes, which feed only upon warm-blooded animals, this species is fond of frogs.

These it takes with a lightning-like dart, imbedding the fangs deeply and holding the prey until it is dead, when it is swallowed. Frogs that have been bitten and escaped from the snake die within five minutes or so from the effects of the venom which appears to quickly paralyse them. This rattlesnake will also eat small rodents and very young birds.

The species produces a small number of living young. Seven young were born from one specimen in the writer's collection and nine from another. These young snakes had a very minute "button" to represent the future rattle.