MasterDataPub.xlsx

We examine unique rattlesnake rattle characteristics to address some of the shortcomings in long term data sets when examining morphological changes in response to insularity and isolation.We used a large database of rattle segment sizes recorded from both island and mainland populations of Western Rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus) to compare approximate body sizes at different ecdysis cycles, which allowed us to assess differences in growth rates and patterns of sexual size dimorphism.Our results show that rattlesnakes on our study island population are born smaller and grow more slowly than their mainland counterparts, resulting in a “dwarfed” island population.