What is "massasauga"

Massasauga \Mas`sa*sau"ga\, n. (Zo["o]l.) The black rattlesnake ( Crotalus tergemina, or Caudisona tergemina), found in the Mississippi Valley.

n. The rattlesnake (taxlink Crotalus catenatus species noshow=1) or (taxlink Sistrurus catenatus species noshow=1) in the family Viperidae. It is found in three subspecies.

1. n. small pygmy rattlesnake [syn: ground rattler, Sistrurus miliaris]

2. pygmy rattlesnake found in moist areas from the Great Lakes to Mexico; feeds on mice and small amphibians [syn: massasauga rattler, Sistrurus catenatus]

The massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) is a rattlesnake species found in midwestern North America from southern Ontario to northern Mexico, and parts of the United States in between. Three subspecies are currently recognized including the nominate subspecies described here. As with all rattlesnakes, it is a pit viper (and as with all pit vipers, it is venomous).