Potential Distribution of the Long-Tailed Rattlesnake Crotalus stejnegeri Dunn 1919 (Squamata: Viperidae): A Rare and Under-Sampled Species

Abstract

This study employed the MaxEnt model to assess the potential distribution of the long-tailed rattlesnake, Crotalus stejnegeri, a threatened species endemic to Mexico. The results demonstrate a good reliability of the model, achieving an AUC of 0.879. They highlight a potential distribution concentrated in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental, primarily in south-central Sinaloa, southwestern Durango, and northern Nayarit, characterized by tropical dry forest. Temperature during the driest quarter and the seasonality of precipitation are identified as determining factors, while the low suitability in Chihuahua suggests a tropical affinity of the species. The variability in precipitation during the cooler quarter emphasizes the importance of expanding the number of occurrence records for the species through further field exploration within its range. These findings provide valuable information for conservation efforts and underscore key areas for future research.