gestalt is technically defined as "A physical, biological, psychological, or symbolic configuration or pattern of elements so unified as a whole that its properties cannot be derived from a simple summation of its parts."



In this case, it means that Mexican hogs have a certain "look" to them that, with experience, you can learn to recognize. It is hard to quantify exactly what it is that makes them look this way, but I am pretty confident I can look at a hog and tell if it is a kennerlyi or a nasicus. So rather than saying I recognize them by characteristic A, B, and C, I recognize them by their whole "gestalt".



If I had to quantify it, it is something to do with the contrast between the background coloration and the blotches, plus how distinct the blotch edges are, plus some other stuff I can't really describe.



So this snake is an adult female Plains Hognosed from Hudspeth county TX -





while this snake is a young Mexican Hog from about an hour south of the previous spot -


-----
Chris Harrison

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