The Massasauga, Sistrurus catenatus, is a federally threatened snake native to Illinois prairies, including historic records in the Chicagoland region.
We have been studying the Massasauga in Illinois since 1998 and for the Tollway since 2005.
Publications:
Baker, S. J., M. L. Niemiller, A. J. Stites, K. T. Ash, M. A. Davis, M. J. Dreslik, and C. A. Phillips. 2020. Detection of Sistrurus catenatus and Ophidiomyces via Environmental DNA. Conservation Genetic Resources. 12:13–15.
Baker, S.J., E.K. Haynes, M. Gramhofer, K. Stanford, S. Bailey, M. Christman, K. Conley, S. Frasca, Jr., R. Ossiboff, D. Lobato, and M.C. Allender. 2019. Case definition and diagnostic testing for snake fungal disease. Herpetological Review. 50(2):279–285.
Britton, M., M.C. Allender, S. Hsiao, and S.J. Baker. 2019. Postnatal mortality in neonate rattlesnakes associated with Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 50(3):672.
Allender, M.C,, S.J. Baker, M. Britton, and A. Kent. 2018. Snake fungal disease reduces skin bacterial and fungal diversity in an endangered rattlesnake. Nature Scientific Reports 2018(8):21147. DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-30709.
Baker, S.J., W.J.B. Anthonysamy, M.A. Davis, M.J. Dreslik, M. R. Douglas, M. E. Douglas, and C.A. Phillips. 2018. Temporal patterns of genetic diversity in an imperiled population of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus). Copeia 106(3):414–420.
Baker, S.J., E.K. Haynes, S.M. LaGrange, M. Britton, M.C. Allender. 2018. First confirmed occurrence of Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in Indiana, USA. Herpetological Review 49(3):470–473.
Baker, S.J., M.L. Niemiller, A.J. Stites, K.T. Ash, M.A. Davis, M.J. Dreslik, and C.A. Phillips. 2018. Detection of Sistrurus catenatus and Ophidiomyces via Environmental DNA. Conservation Genetics Resources (2018):1-3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-018-1053-9.
Baker, S. J., S. J. Beaupre, M. J. Dreslik, and C. A. Phillips. 2017. Variation in resting metabolic rate of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus). Pp. 168–178 in M. J. Dreslik, W. K. Hayes, S. J. Beaupre, and S. P. Mackessy (eds.), The Biology of Rattlesnakes II. ECO Herpetological Publishing and Distribution, Rodeo, New Mexico.
Dreslik, M. J., S. J. Baker, D. B. Wylie, D. B. Shepard, and C. A. Phillips. 2017. Temporal trends in population size and structure of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus)in south-central Illinois. Pp. 126–136 in M. J. Dreslik, W. K. Hayes, S. J. Beaupre, and S. P. Mackessy (eds.), The Biology of Rattlesnakes II. ECO Herpetological Publishing and Distribution, Portal, New Mexico.
Dreslik, M. J., D. B. Shepard, S. J. Baker, B. C. Jellen, and C. A. Phillips. 2017. Body size, growth and sexual size dimorphism the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus). Pp. 66–78 in M. J. Dreslik, W. K. Hayes, S. J. Beaupre, and S. P. Mackessy (eds.), The Biology of Rattlesnakes II. ECO Herpetological Publishing and Distribution, Rodeo, New Mexico.
Dreslik, M. J., D. B. Shepard, B. C. Jellen, and C. A. Phillips. 2017. Movement and home range of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) at its southern range limit. Pp. 168–178 in M. J. Dreslik, W. K. Hayes, S. J. Beaupre, and S. P. Mackessy (eds.), The Biology of Rattlesnakes II. ECO Herpetological Publishing and Distribution, Portal, New Mexico.
Hileman E.T, R.B. King, J.M. Adamski, T.G. Anton, R.L. Bailey, S.J. Baker, N.D. Bieser, T.A. Bell, Jr, K.M. Bissell, D.R. Bradke, and H. Campa III. 2017. Climatic and geographic predictors of life history variation in Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus): A range-wide synthesis. PloS one. 2017 Feb 14;12(2):e0172011.
Allender, M.C., C.A. Phillips, S.J. Baker, D.B. Wylie, A. Narotsky, and M.J. Dreslik. 2016. Hematology and emergence of Ophidiomyces in an Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) population. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 52:258–269.
Baker, S. J., M. J. Dreslik, D. B. Wylie, and C. A. Phillips. 2016. Sources of mortality in the endangered Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) in Illinois.Herpetological Conservation and Biology 11:335–343.
Jaeger, C.P., M.R. Duvall, B.J. Swanson, M.J. Dreslik, S.J. Baker, C.A. Phillips., and R.B. King. 2016. Neutral and adaptive genetic variation in an endangered rattlesnake, the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus). Ecology and Evolution 6:L3991–4003.
Allender, M.C., R. Junge, S. Baker, E. Hileman, L. Faust, and C. Cray. 2015. Plasma electrophoretic profiles in the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) and influences of age, sex, year, location, and snake fungal disease. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 46(4):767–773.