Click on Map for Enlarged View Click for Photo
|
Legend
|
|
 |
Exact locality, based on specimen(s) or photographs examined |
 |
Exact locality, based on literature record believed valid |
 |
Approximate locality based on specimen(s) or photographs examined |
 |
Approximate locality based on literature record believed valid |
 |
County record only, based on specimens or photographs examined |
 |
County record only, based on literature report believed valid |
 |
Type locality |
| ? | Questionable and/or problematic record |
Taxonomy:
Of the three recognized subspecies of this snake (Crother et al. 2012),
only S. m. streckeri (Western Pygmy
Rattlesnake) has been reported from Tennessee (Conant and Collins 1998).
However, Sistrurus m. miliarius
(Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake) is the subspecies Mount (1975) found in counties of
north Alabama that border Tennessee.
Distribution:
The Pygmy Rattlesnake occurs in
scattered localities on the western Highland Rim from Stewart County in
the north to Lawrence County in the south and across the southern tier from
Lawrence to Hardeman County.
Museum Records
by Counties:
Benton—AUM 25100; APSU 19866.
Decatur—APSU 19462.
Hardeman—APSU 15965.
Lawrence—LSUMZ 37507-37508.
Stewart—APSU 226, 403, 456, 481, 558, 934, 1032, 1033, 4753, 15962,
15963; UMMZ 135303.
Literature
Sources by Counties:
Benton—Gentry
(1956), Jacob (1981).
Decatur—Jacob (1981),
Colvin and Byrd (2014).
Hardeman—Jacob (1981), Norton and
Harvey (1975).
Hardin—Jacob (1981).
Hickman—Jacob (1981).
Lawrence—Gentry (1956), Gloyd
(1940), Jacob (1981).
Lewis—Jacob (1981).
Maury—Jacob (1981).
McNairy—Endsley (1954), Gentry
(1956).
Montgomery—Jacob (1981).
Perry—Jacob (1981).
Stewart—Barbour (1971), Fann
(1994), Jacob (1981), Scott (1990).
Tipton—Jacob (1981).
Wayne—Jacob (1981).
Questionable
and/or Erroneous Records:
For reasons discussed in the
Introduction, we determined not to plot localities on species distribution
maps that were only supported by unverified specimen sightings, especially those
based on second-hand reports. For
Sistrurus, this approach resulted in the exclusion of several localities
from counties that are normally considered within the range of the species in
Tennessee.
This was particularly true for the information
provided by Jacob (1981). To be
consistent with the approach taken throughout this study, we determined not to
plot localities from Jacob's (1981) study that were based solely on unverified
sightings. In the above list of
Literature Sources by Counties, the citation “Jacob (1981)” follows each of
the counties identified. However, you will notice on the distribution map
provided for Sistrurus that no
localities were plotted for Hardin, Maury, Montgomery, Perry, Tipton,
and Wayne counties even though Jacob (1981) provided summary data on localities
from all of these. This was because
all of the information was based on the unverified sightings of others and,
therefore, was not included on our distribution map for the species in
Tennessee. With the exception of Montgomery County, the western pygmy
rattlesnake probably occurs in most if not all of these 6 counties.
However, voucher specimens and/or photographs of specimens are needed to
validate the presence of the species in these areas.
As for Montgomery County, considering the amount of herpetological
inventory work having occurred there (Scott 1967, Scott and Snyder 1968, Scott
1991, Zirkle 1993, Rozelle and Scott 1995, Scott et al. 1995, Scott and
Williamson 1999, Fitch 1998), we consider
the sight record from Port Royal to be highly questionable and in need of
corroboration before it can be accepted.
Posted: 1 May 2008
Latest Revision: 11 December 2017
APSU Homepage |
APSU Department of Biology |
APSU Center for Field Biology
This document is being adapted to the WWW by Jean Langley, Floyd Scott, and Rusty Smith.