Massasauga
Sistrurus catenatus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Sistrurus, Species: S. catenatus
North America, primarily in the central and eastern United States extending into parts of southern Ontario, Canada, inhabiting wetlands, swamp borders, and wet prairies.
Look up Massasauga in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Sistrurus, Species: S. catenatus
Conservation
Listed as Least Concern globally by the IUCN, though many local populations face significant threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and intentional persecution.
Physical Description
Pale gray to light brown ground color with a series of dark brown, rounded dorsal blotches, smaller alternating dark blotches on the flanks, a triangular head shape, and a rattle on the tail tip.
Size & Dimensions
Specimens typically range from 60 to 75 cm (24 to 30 inches) in total length, with maximum recorded lengths reaching around 100 cm.
Habitat
Wet habitats including wet prairies, marshes, sedge meadows, and low-lying areas near lakes and rivers, often utilizing crayfish burrows for shelter.
Diet & Feeding
Predominantly feeds on small mammals, frogs, and lizards, utilizing an ambush hunting strategy.
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous reproduction, giving birth to live young with typical litter sizes ranging from 5 to 20 neonates during late summer.
Look-alikes
Frequently confused with various non-venomous water snakes and other rattlesnake species, distinguishable primarily by the distinct head scale arrangements, smaller rattle, and specific pattern of dorsal blotches.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern globally by the IUCN, though many local populations face significant threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and intentional persecution.
Cultural Significance
Plays an important ecological role as a mid-level predator in wetland ecosystems, helping control rodent and amphibian populations.
Notable Features
Features a relatively small rattle compared to larger rattlesnake species and possesses a high reliance on crayfish burrows for overwintering hibernation.