Definition

Noun 1. A small venomous snake species: Sistrurus miliaris is the scientific name for a species of small rattlesnake, commonly known as the pygmy rattlesnake. It is characterized by its small size, distinctive rattle, and a series of dark dorsal blotches.

Usage

• The term is used in formal, scientific, or academic contexts to precisely identify this specific species of snake.
• It is typically used as a singular noun, often preceded by the definite article "the" when referring to the species as a whole.

Examples

• Scientific Description: " is found in the southeastern United States."
• Field Observation: "The researcher identified the specimen as ."
• Conservation Context: "The habitat of is under threat from development."

Advanced Usage

• In Taxonomic Classification: The name is part of a binomial nomenclature system. is the genus name, and is the specific epithet. The full name is always italicized.
• Abbreviation: After first use in a text, it is sometimes abbreviated as .

Variants and Related Words

• Common Name: Pygmy rattlesnake (This is the non-scientific, everyday name for ).
• Related Species: (the massasauga, a related species within the same genus).

Synonyms

• Pygmy rattlesnake
• Ground rattlesnake (a less common regional name)

Notes

• There are no idioms, phrasal verbs, or multiple common meanings associated with this term, as it is a specific scientific name.
• The primary synonym is its common name, "pygmy rattlesnake."

Noun

1. small pygmy rattlesnake