I am interested in what criteria you are using to distinguish between concinnus and fitchi.



Stebbins writes that the Oregon Red-Spotted subspecies may or may not have lateral stripes. In fact he states that the lateral stripe is only occasionally or sometimes missing. Of the Valley Garter he states the tops of their heads are black, brown, or dark grey. The other difference cited between the two subspecies is the color of the ventrals.



Red-Spotted: Black ground color extends onto belly.



Valley: Black on belly usually confined to the tips of the ventrals



This is all consistent with all the other material I have found. I have not found anything contradictory nor have I found anything more in depth. The relationship between the Calif Red-Sided, the Red-Spotted, and the Valley Garter is interesting but a bit hazy. For that matter I wonder how you’d distinguish a Valley from a Common Red-Sided if no location data was available since the latter also has a dark head. Do you know of any herpetologists or taxonomists that have written in greater and more precise detail on distinguishing concinnus from fitchi?

[ Show Entire Thread ]