Cantil

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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Agkistrodon bilineatus. (Discuss)

This article is about the snake, for the community of the same name, see: Cantil, California.

iCantil

Taylor's Cantil, Agkistrodon taylori

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Agkistrodon

Species

A. bilineatus
A. taylori

The cantil is the common name of two species of venomous snakes in the viper family, found in Mexico and Central America. They are in the genus Agkistrodon, and are closely related to copperheads and cottonmouths. As of 2000, there are two distinct species of cantils, and four recognized subspecies. They are sometimes referred to as the Mexican moccasin.

1 Species
2 Description
3 Geographic range
4 Behavior
5 In captivity
6 Conservation concerns
7 Related species
8 References

[edit] Species

Cantil, Agkistrodon bilineatus (Günther, 1863)
- Mexican Cantil or Mexican Moccasin, Agkistrodon bilineatus bilineatus (Stejneger, 1899)
- Castellana, Agkistrodon bilineatus howardgloydi (Conant, 1984)
- Agkistrodon bilineatus lemosespinali (Smith & Chiszar, 2001)
- Yucatán Cantil, Agkistrodon bilineatus russeolus (Gloyd, 1972)
Taylor's Cantil or Ornate Cantil, Agkistrodon taylori (Burger & Robertson, 1951)

[edit] Description

Cantils are heavy bodied snakes, and share the same general body structure with cottonmouths. They average around 24 inches in length and have a broad, triangular shaped head with small eyes that have vertical pupils.

Coloration can vary, but most are brown or black, with darker brown or black banding, sometimes with white or cream colored accents. A. taylori is known for being more elaborately patterned, often having distinct tan colored banding, sometimes with orange or yellow accents that can almost appear gold in color. Juveniles of both species are almost always distinctly banded, with a bright green or yellow tip to their tail, which they use to lure prey with. As they age, their pattern and coloration fades and darkens.

[edit] Geographic range

A. taylori is found exclusively in northeastern Mexico, in the states of Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, and Hidalgo. A. b. bilineatus is found throughout much of southern Mexico, and south into Guatemala and El Salvador. A. b. russeolus is found on the Yucatán Peninsula. A. b. howardgloydi is found in Central America, in the countries of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. A. b. lemosespinali is only known from a single specimen, which is believed to be representative of a cantil population between the populations of A. taylori and A. b. russeolus, but not much is known about it and research is ongoing.^[1]

[edit] Behavior

Much like the American cottonmouth, the cantil has a reputation for having a nasty disposition and being extremely dangerous, a reputation probably not well deserved. They are shy by nature, and if threatened their first instinct is usually to flee. If unable to flee they will threat display by raising their head and sometimes opening their mouth. They generally will only strike if given no other choice.

Cantil venom is considered medically significant to humans, but Instituto Clodomiro Picado, in Costa Rica, manufactures a polyvalent antivenin which can be used to treat envenomation from cantils.

Breeding occurs in the spring, and like most other viper species, cantils are ovoviviparous, giving birth to 5-20 young at a time.

[edit] In captivity

Export from Mexico is not permitted, but cantils of both species are often captive bred, making them frequently available in the exotic pet trade. They are also well represented in zoos throughout North America and Europe.