Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Mixcoatlus melanurus (Mixcoatlus melanurus), recorded as Endangered
Mixcoatlus melanurus (Mixcoatlus melanurus). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Endangered

Mixcoatlus melanurus

Mixcoatlus melanurus

Mixcoatlus melanurus is a pit viper species endemic to the mountains of southern Mexico.

Status
Endangered
Scientific name
Mixcoatlus melanurus
Taxonomy
Squamata · Viperidae · Mixcoatlus

The viper

Adults grow to between 37.5 and 50 centimetres (14+3⁄4 and 19+5⁄8 inches) in length and have a moderately stout build.

Range and habitat

It is found in two Mexican states, southern Puebla and Oaxaca, at elevations of 1,600–2,400 m (5,200–7,900 ft). Mixcoatlus melanurus is a pit viper species endemic to the mountains of southern Mexico.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

In crisis

This species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with the following criteria: B1ab(iii) (v3.1, 2001). A species is listed as such when the best available evidence indicates that the geographic range, in the form of extent of occurrence, is estimated to be less than 5,000 km2 (1,900 sq mi), that estimates indicate it to be severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than 5 locations, and that a continuing decline has been observed, inferred or projected, in area, extent and/or quality of habitat. It is therefore considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

In 2007 when it was last assessed, the population trend was down.

Mixcoatlus melanurus is Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Mixcoatlus melanurus, Wikidata item Q3015289. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Also in this catalog

Photograph of Vaquita (Phocoena sinus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Vaquita

Phocoena sinus
Photograph of Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Javan rhinoceros

Rhinoceros sondaicus
Photograph of Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Sumatran orangutan

Pongo abelii
Photograph of Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Axolotl

Ambystoma mexicanum

Quick answers

What is Mixcoatlus melanurus?
Common names: black-tailed horned pit viper. Mixcoatlus melanurus is a pit viper species endemic to the mountains of southern Mexico.
What is the conservation status of Mixcoatlus melanurus?
Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Mixcoatlus melanurus. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Mixcoatlus melanurus live?
Mixcoatlus melanurus is a pit viper species endemic to the mountains of southern Mexico.
Why is Mixcoatlus melanurus in crisis?
A species is listed as such when the best available evidence indicates that the geographic range, in the form of extent of occurrence, is estimated to be less than 5,000 km2 (1,900 sq mi), that estimates indicate it to be severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than 5 locations, and that a continuing decline has been observed, inferred or projected, in area, extent and/or quality of habitat.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Mixcoatlus melanurus?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Mixcoatlus melanurus a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.