Potential distribution of the Long-tailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus stejnegeri Dunn 1919 (Squamata: Viperidae): A rare and under-sampled species
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: This study employed the MaxEnt algorithm to assess the potential distribution of the Long-tailedRattlesnake (Crotalus stejnegeri), a threatened species endemic to Mexico. The results demonstrate a high reliability ofthe model, achieving an AUC of 0.879. They highlight a potential distribution concentrated in habitats characterizedby tropical dry forest in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental, primarily in south-central Sinaloa, southwesternDurango, and northern Nayarit. Temperature during the driest quarter and the seasonality of precipitation were identifiedas determining factors of habitat suitability, whereas the low suitability in Chihuahua suggests a tropical affinity ofthe species. Variability in precipitation during the coolest quarter emphasizes the importance of expanding the numberof occurrence records for the species by means of further field surveys within its known and potential range. Thesefindings provide valuable information for conservation efforts and identify key areas for future research.
Source: Reptiles & Amphibians
Author: Héctor Alexis Castro Bastidas
Institution: Centro de Estudios Justo Sierra
Language: English
Subfield: Ecological Modeling
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4401786407