Posted by:
ginter
at Sat Feb 6 22:48:43 2010 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by ginter ]
hey guys...
this is really going to sound harsh but....
there is actually nothing about this snake that is even remotely characteristic of great basin gopher snake (Pituophis c. desrticola). the shape of the head, the number and shape of the dorsal saddles, and the cervical pattern are all indicative of affinis or sayi. I would not even suspect that this animal has any deserticola influence.... sorry to those who suggested this, no offense intended.....
If you guessed great basin gopher snake i strongly suggest that you go to the literature, and other online resources to become more familiar with that group. Great basin gopher snakes are generally very distinct looking animals.
I have seen individuals from far western populations that are extremely influence by pacific gophers (Pituophis c. catenifer), and individuals from the far southeastern part of the range that show sonoran gophersnake (P.c. affinis), influences but the neck pattern is always the key diagnostic character. IMHO the snake pictured appears to be neither an affinis influence deserticola nor a deserticola influenced affinis......!
southwestern sayi or an affinis would be my guess....
Ok, so that is a harsh, blunt, and tactless way to say it but there you go. Let me fish around in my photos and post an example of a classic deserticola to make my point. Give me a day or two but it is coming.
In a good or classic example of deserticola you will see black or very dark cervical or neck saddles join together very cleanly to encircle the ground or base color giving the impression of light spots on a dark back ground. In general the dorsal saddles are cleaner, smaller, and more romboid in shape.
In the snake pictured we see pale cervical saddles that are irregularly and poorly connected at best and the body saddles are relatively large and squarish in shape.
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RE: what is it? - ginter, Sat Feb 6 22:48:43 2010