Thanks Cole, helpful post --



>>Mitch is correct in pointing out the number of supralabials on the "mystery" snake. The head scutelation in that animal (3rd and 4th supralabials entering the ocular orbit) clearly suggests that the critter is a member of the species Lampropeltis triangulum, and not a member of Pantherophis guttatus (in which supralabials 4 and 5 enter the ocular orbit).



This seems like a good way to quantify the hazy "nose is longer" qualitative description.



I didn't notice it before, but it IS possible to count the supralabials in the corn pic --







>>As for some of the gross morphological charicters I mentioned being more identifiable and definitive in adult animals, I would concur, to a degree. However, cross-sectional body shape is consistant in both forms and remains true through the various life stages.



But not always consistently noticeable in pics, as I demonstrated in an earlier post.



>>As for head shape, when viewed from above, corns (even young ones) have considerably longer, more squared-off snouts than Lampropeltis triangulum.



Unfortunately, we didn't have view-from-above pics to compare in this case.



>>Scale row counts differ between the taxa, too. Milks have 21-23 scale rows at mid-body (or 19, if you include elapsoides as part of triangulum). Corns, on the other hand, have 27-29 scale rows at mid-body.



That could be very helpful in some circumstances -- but not visible in the pics we had available.



>>Scale shape and structure differ, too. Pantherophis guttatus has weakly keeled scales, even in young specimens (though it's harder to discern).



Yup, we discussed this. However, this is also not necessarily visible in pics. Here's a pic I posted earlier to demonstrate. Do these scales look especially smooth, or weakly keeled?







Thanks again for the post!
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0.1 Peruvian rainbow boa (Amaru)

2.0 Brazilian rainbow boas (Arco, Olho)

0.3 Honduran milksnakes (Chicchan, Chanir, Hari)

1.0 Thayeri kingsnake (Coatl)

0.0.1 Mexican black kingsnake (TBA)

2.7 corns (Cetto, Tolosa, Uce, TBA)

1,000,000.1,000,000 other critters

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