Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Someone asked for some NM alterna pics in a thread below. Some people have seen them before, but I also found the video I took of it that has never been posted before.

I uploaded to original video which has very slightly better quality than the youtube version posted.

NM alterna vid in quicktime format

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Thanks very much for posting this.
Have a great Xmas everyone!

--Henry W.

Erik,

I know you live around Las Cruces. Were these pics some you took your self? I spent some time down around the Carlsbad area on several occasions and saw lots of herps but never any alterna.

That one has far more color than any NM alterna I've seen.
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Vichris
"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane"- Marcus Aurelius

Vichris Variables

Actually, I live in Carlsbad. The snake was collected under permit by my friend Chris. I was also permitted so handling, photographing, etc was all legally done.

These are my pictures and my video I took of the snake the morning after capture.

Erik,

Do you have any grasp as to "about" how many alterna have actually been found or observed in New Mexico?
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Gerald Keown
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research
www.southwesternherp.com

I think officially there have been 3 found in NM. I'm sure more have been found and I've had people tell me they (or their friend's cousin etc) found some, but I've never seen any photos. I've lived in Carlsbad for a few years and have herped the area plenty of times and never found one, so I know they aren't common. Then again, I've herped the Trans Pecos Texas plenty of times and haven't one there either!

Thanks for the info. I knew that it was less than 6 but wasn't real sure how accurate my numbers were. That's a neat looking snake.
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Gerald Keown
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research
www.southwesternherp.com

Erik,

Have you seen any others with that much orange in the alternates?

I'm sorry I thought that you were from Las Cruces. How are those NM Pyros doing?
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Vichris
"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane"- Marcus Aurelius

Vichris Variables