Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was looking in the western field guide and it said the splendida does not occur in southern AZ. Is this incorrect? I have caught what looks like splendida to me. Are these an intergrade of some sort? Looks wise, they certainly look like splendida and not Cal kings. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

In third edition Stebbins, it looks like splendida does touch the south eastern border of Arizona, with an integrade range in the south eastern corner of Arizona (cali, nigrita, splendida border the intergrade range).

Range maps are not always accurate, especially where integrade ranges begin and end.

Got a picture of it?
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3.0 WC; 0.1 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 CB L. pyromelana pyromelana
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

My home computer is down so I cannot post a pic but it looks like any spledida that you would catch in the west Texas area. Sock head type with yellow chain pattern on black background. I have seen 2 of these and the area in question is South of Tucson. Thanks.

It's quite possible that the integrade distribution in that area is more heavily influenced by splendida than california or nigrita, or that the range maps are incorrect.

The range maps often are made from data that are years old, and usually do not result from examining specimens in every single local population.

If the kings in that area look like a splendida with no influence of nigrita or california, that's what I would call it, but noting possible influence from the other species, noting the locale where it was collected.

One thing that is possible is that splendida use to have a larger western range that has given way to integrades with california kings, with your population being an isolated population where the integration has not taken place. Or its possible that they are integrades, but just much more heavily influenced by splendida.
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3.0 WC; 0.1 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 CB L. pyromelana pyromelana
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

That is the normal subspecies around Tucson and south. You also get some Nigrita as you get closer to the Mexican border.

Splendida does indeed occur Southeastern AZ. I have a very nice specimen that was caught right outside of Douglas.
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Diego

Diego & Tiffany's Zoo:
SNAKES
3.4 Corn Snakes (Different morphs)
1.0.0 Boa Constrictor
0.1.0 Dumeril's Boa
1.1.0 Rosy Boas (Mexican & Mid Baja)
1.1.0 Kenyan Sand Boas
0.1.0 Indonesian Dwarf Pacific Boa
0.1.0 Tangerine Honduran Milksnake
1.0.0 Honduran Milksnake
0.1.0 Pueblan Milksnake
1.2.0 Ball Pythons
1.0.0 Woma Python
0.0.1 Ribbon Snake
1.0.0 Western Hognose
1.0.0 Albino San Diego Gopher Snake
0.0.1 Sonoran Gopher Snake
0.1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.1.0 Gray Banded Kingsnakes (River Road)
0.1.0 Desert Kingsnake
0.1.1 California Kingsnakes
1.0.0 Yellowtail Cribo
0.1.0 Blacktail Cribo

LIZARDS
1.0.0 Frilled Dragon
3.1.0 Bearded Dragons (2 Normal, 1 RedXGold, 1 Citrus)
0.1.0 Eastern Collared Lizard
0.1.0 Merauke Blue Tongue Skink
1.0.0 Turquoise Sunburst Veiled Chameleon
2.3.0 Leopard Geckos
1.1.0 Yellow Niger Uromastyx
1.1.0 Green Anoles
1.0.0 Bahama Anoles
FROGS
2.2.0 Southern Bell Frogs
1.0.1 Green Tree Frogs
0.0.2 Striped Walking Frogs
1.1.1 White's Tree Frogs

Not true, splendida does occur in the southern portion of AZ around Tucson. Living in NM I've seen many dersert kings from AZ through Texas.

If and when you can post a pic, that would be a great help!

Here you go:

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Diego

Diego & Tiffany's Zoo:
SNAKES
3.4 Corn Snakes (Different morphs)
1.0.0 Boa Constrictor
0.1.0 Dumeril's Boa
1.1.0 Rosy Boas (Mexican & Mid Baja)
1.1.0 Kenyan Sand Boas
0.1.0 Indonesian Dwarf Pacific Boa
0.1.0 Tangerine Honduran Milksnake
1.0.0 Honduran Milksnake
0.1.0 Pueblan Milksnake
1.2.0 Ball Pythons
1.0.0 Woma Python
0.0.1 Ribbon Snake
1.0.0 Western Hognose
1.0.0 Albino San Diego Gopher Snake
0.0.1 Sonoran Gopher Snake
0.1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.1.0 Gray Banded Kingsnakes (River Road)
0.1.0 Desert Kingsnake
0.1.1 California Kingsnakes
1.0.0 Yellowtail Cribo
0.1.0 Blacktail Cribo

LIZARDS
1.0.0 Frilled Dragon
3.1.0 Bearded Dragons (2 Normal, 1 RedXGold, 1 Citrus)
0.1.0 Eastern Collared Lizard
0.1.0 Merauke Blue Tongue Skink
1.0.0 Turquoise Sunburst Veiled Chameleon
2.3.0 Leopard Geckos
1.1.0 Yellow Niger Uromastyx
1.1.0 Green Anoles
1.0.0 Bahama Anoles
FROGS
2.2.0 Southern Bell Frogs
1.0.1 Green Tree Frogs
0.0.2 Striped Walking Frogs
1.1.1 White's Tree Frogs

This one is from Arizona, looks different but still call it splendida.
Todd Hughes

Thanks to all who replied.