I have learned as I have gotten older too; " keep arguments to a bare minimum " you cannot win them anyway. So, I do not argue the Subspecific Status of this animal, but I will tell you this; " I have had my share of Peruvians in the past and have seen tons more and I have had and seen several of the dark phased animals, that looked like Whitneywees and Rentfros. " This female, and the female that I brought back from Ecuador in the mid 90s, are completely different. It is more than just having a Peruvianesque Boa that is dark and calling it Melanogaster. The dark on these animals, are totally different. It is one of the deepest and richest ink blacks, that you will see on a Boa. The pattern is different and especially the markings to an extent, but the most intriguing factor is the difference in the actuall body and head structure and I am talking Bone Structure and scalation on the head. Since nobody else has any except for a couple of Zoos, it is hard for you guys to comprehend this, BUT if you guys ever get through Tennessee, let me know and I will let you see for yourself. Is Melanogaster a Subspecies? I believe that the ones that are " real " are just as deserving of Subspecific Status as alot of other Boas that have gotten it. By the way, the few that I have seen at a few Zoos, share these same characteristics as mine. Mine was brought out of Ecuador, when she was a baby and raised by one man for over 10yrs, until I got her. She is pure and my favorite of all my ugly Boas. If you seen these Boas in person, you would quickly see that; " They are not just dark B.C.C. ". If I produce them and people want to haggle over this debate, so be it. I just as soon keep them all anyway..........Johnson Herp

[ Show Entire Thread ]