I realize this has gone on for two days now and it is time for it to end, but I have read everyones posts and thought a lot about them and I couldn't let it end without giving my 2cents on the issue...For all who care...=)
Here is the way that I see it. The species Boa constrictor is a very wide spread reptile. Spanning from Mexico to Argentina. Within the range man has seen enough variation in color, behavior and structure to divide the species into several subspecies. Some then like to take it one step further and divide the subspecies into different races and this is based on personal preference. I know my zoology professor agreed with the race division, but many do not and that is why we are having this whole debate.
The way I see it and I know that many may not agree, but here goes any way.
The counties of Surinam and Guyana may not be huge countries, but if we look at them from a snakes prospective they are very large. The border that man has placed is fake and the snakes have no idea it is there and yes snakes do cross over and breed. So here is what I would say... We have one large range of boas stretching from the far west of Surinam to the far Eastern borders of Guyana. I am going to divide these snakes into three groups, even though I am sure that nature has divided them into far more than that. The snakes in the middle of the range are going to be intergrades, because yes they will be breeding with one another, but the snakes in the two extremes are not breeding with one another and haven't been for thousands of years. So then are they different? I think so. I am sure there are even races within the borders of Surinam and the border of Guyana that are very different from one another. When a population is isolated from another section they will evolve differences although they may be slight, they are there nonetheless different because of them. I have kept both of these races and to be honest I didn't collect these boas and I don't know who did, but I did see differences in them. On the other hand I see differences in all my snakes and I am sure we all do...=) So do I have concrete evidence...No...Do I care ...No... Do I love these snakes no matter where they came from...Hell yes...And yes I do agree with the two races being different, but who cares what I think...right...
Lets just all get along and show off are pretty snakes. I think that everyone should post their best pics of your B.c.c. to end this debate and lets just enjoy them for the beauty that they all have.
Take Care to ALL you boa lovers
Josh

[ Show Entire Thread ]