CK,
Actually, I have some fragmentary evidence of where the dwarf and large morphs may intergrade in the Greenhorn Mts. of southern Tulare county. I recorded data from about 17 specimens in that region. The data suggest a mixture of the two morphs and thus I have tentatively considered that region to be where the two morphs intergrade. The crosses I have initiated have been designed to try and determine just what genetic mechanism might account for the two morphs being able to retain their separate identities in face of the prospect they must come in contact and hybridize.

I have tentatively assigned the boa population in the southern Greenhorn Mts. south of Alta Sierra and hwy. 155 as being the dwarf morph as the few specimens from that region suggest they are dwarf. Voucher specimens from the vicinity of Sequoia Nat. Park indicate the large morph occurs in that part of Tulare Co. And thus those 17 specimens found in-between are of particular interest. And here is where future nuclear DNA research would be indicated. If one or more markers could be found that identify the dwarf from the large morph, then testing those 17 specimens could potentially provide some insight.

As mentioned, totally unknown is just how far the dwarf from occurs on the Kern Plateau before it most assuredly comes in contact with the large morph. And as mentioned,
another unknown is if the dwarf form occurs all the way to the extreme southwest region of the Kern Plateau just east of Kernville. If I were younger, that would be one of the areas in which I would conduct searches for the species.

Richad F. Hoyer

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