(2008) discuss available names and the issues surrounding giving the eastern form an unfamiliar name. tergeminus (Say, 1823) and requires a new name to be proposed for the eastern form. catenatus within the range of the western subspecies, S. (2008, Copeia, 2008(2):421-424) restricted the type locality to “floodplain of the Missouri River, between the mouth of the Platte River and Nebraska City, Nebraska” based on careful review of notes and correspondence of the collector, “Mr. American Monthly Magazine and Critical Revue 4:39–42), Holycross et al. Because the type locality of Crotalinus (= Sistrurus) catenatus Rafinesque is vague: “the prairies of the Upper Missouri” (Rafinesque, C. Syst Biol 60 (4): 393-409) indicate strong support for elevating S. However, recent data using molecular markers (Kubatko, et al. Subspecies: Three subspecies were formerly recognized, with the the Eastern massasauga, S. Therefore, the probability that you will see a massasauga in Illinois is very low. See the Key to Illinois Snakes for help with identification. One final comment concerning the identification of a massasauga this species is very rare in Illinois, currently restricted to perhaps only one location in Illinois, in Clinton County. The fox snake, Pantherophis vulpinus, has rounder dorsal blotches (again, not “bow tie” shaped) and only one row of smaller blotches on each side. Click here for images and more information related to the differences between a massasauga and a fox snake. The timber rattlesnake also has a uniformly black tail, whereas the massasauga has 4 to 7 black rings on the tail. The timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus, has dorsal blotches that are usually uniform in width across the back (not wider at the edges, or “bow tie” shaped as in the massasauga) and very narrow, sometimes approaching a chevron. Other characters that can be used to distinguish the massasauga from similar species include the dorsal pattern and the color of the tail. 2), it is not always feasible to rely on the rattle. In addition, because rattle segments can break and very young snakes have a inconspicuous rattle (Fig. However, the condition of the head plates can be difficult to see on a live specimen and it is not recommended to get close enough to do so, as this is a venomous species. Similar Species: Timber rattlesnake, fox snake. No other Illinois snake has the combination of a rattle and nine symmetrical plates on the top of the head.
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