title: [Reproductive biology of the Central American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus durissus (Serpentes: Viperidae) in Costa Rica].
abstract: In Costa Rica, rattlesnakes mate during the early dry season (December and January) and births occur in the early rainy season (May-July). Gestation is therefore about 6 months. The mean number of offspring is 22.9 and is significantly correlated with the size of the female. Newborn rattlesnakes are 27.5-43.0 cm in length and weight 11.4-46.3 g. They are relatively docile. Adult males are longer and heavier than females. Females seem to have their first litter when their size exceeds 120 cm.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Solórzano
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cerdas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003307:Copulation; D003364:Costa Rica; D004463:Ecology; D005260:Female; D008098:Litter Size; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012911:Snakes / Q000502:physiology*
vernacular_title: Biología reproductiva de la cascabel centroamericana Crotalus durissus durissus (Serpentes: Viperidae) en Costa Rica.