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Eastern Massasauga
Sistrurus catenatus
The adult massasauga measures 18-40 inches in length (45.7-101.6cm). On average they reach 27.5 inches (70cm). Adults can weigh between 0.5-1lb (226.8-453.6g). The body is marked with a row of larger black to dark brown hourglass-shaped markings running down the back and three rows of smaller rounded spots on each side. the base scale color is grey to brownish-grey and sometimes all black. A set of dark and lighter bars extends from the eye to the rear of the jaw. Unlike the Timber Rattlesnake, which has numerous small scales on the crown of its head, this rattlesnake has nine large scales on the crown.
Eastern Massasauga: List
Eastern Massasauga Images
 (Crowely, J. 2017)Coiled snake head up facing right rattle down. |  (Blog Spot. 2013)Head, neck and part of the body facing left. |  (Waterland life. 2006)Coiled snake facing down in grass. |
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 (Redmer, M. 2015)Massasauga coiled facing right rattle up. |  (Detroit zoo)Dorsal view of Massasauga facing left. |  (Crowely, J. 2017)Coiled snake on leaves facing right. |
Eastern Massasauga: Gallery
References
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. (1999, December 4). Eastern massasauga. NYS DEC. https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7154.html
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Photo References
Blog Spot. (2013). Head and part of body top view on grass facing left [Photograph]. Blog spot. http://snakes- 2013.blogspot.com/2013/01/eastern-massasauga-rattlesnake.html
Crowley, J. (2017). Eastern Massasauga rattelsnake observed in Ontario, Canada [Photograph]. US fish & Wildlife service. https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/reptiles/eama/index.html
Crowley, J. (2017). Massasauga [Photograph]. Ontario nature. https://ontarionature.org/programs/citizen-science/reptile-amphibian- atlas/species/
Detroit Zoo. Massasauga Rattlesnake [Photograph]. Detroit Zoo. https://detroitzoo.org/animals/zoo-animals/eastern-massasauga- rattlesnake/
Redmer, M. (2015). Coiled snake rattle up head facing right [Photograph]. US fish & wildlife service. https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/reptiles/eama/pdf/SSAFinal23July2015EMR.pd f
Waterland life. (2006). Coiled snake rattle on right head on the left facing down [Photograph]. Western Pennsylvania conservancy. https://waterlandlife.org/wildlife-pnhp/species-at-risk-in-pennsylvania/eastern-massasauga-rattlesnake/
Eastern Massasauga: Text
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