Rattlesnakes: perception from some people in the Chihuahuan desert in the state of Chihuahua
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Abstract
The state of Chihuahua, Mexico has more than 50% of its territory composed by the Chihuahuan desert ecoregion. The herpetofauna is represented by diverse species of reptiles; one of them is the rattlesnakes of the genus Crotalus. Since antiquity people in the rural areas have used several species of rattlesnakes as an important food resource and folk medicine. The objective of this study is focused in knowing how people perceive and use rattlesnakes in the Chihuahuan desert in Chihuahua. A total of 50 questionnaires were applied to people in different random localities in the Chihuahuan desert in the state of Chihuahua. A total of 47 persons (94%) identified rattlesnake in their lots or ranches; 78% identified one or more rattlesnakes (n=39). The contingency table analysis revealed that the answers provided by the people were similar to the ones from the literature for two species Crotalus atrox and C. viridis. A total of 48.93% killed rattlesnakes (23) and 31.91% (15) more, may or may not kill them. Half the people that kill or potentially kill rattlesnakes do it because of fear or precaution (n=19), whereas, other consumed them (10.52%) and 31.57% (n=12) is a combination of fear and consumption. This information is useful because of the lack ok knowledge regarding the genus Crotalus protected by Mexican law.
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