Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wondering about your opinions on most variable patterning/coloration in a locality. Based on what I've seen at various websites and Merker's book, it seems like Christmas Mountains. Any input?

Bill
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WJS Herps
Brooksville, Fl
Bill & Jennifer Smoot

I would say Gaps, xmas mtns, but of course all localities look great and vary greatly.

~Tony
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You can never have only one snake!

My experience has pointed toward Luna Vista and Castalon.The problem is again as people will tell you especially some of the other long time biologist and herpetoculturist,is that we have very little access to most habitat.If you were to speak to these people they would tell you that what is out there unexplored boggles our mind.We have all looked at these areas and imagined what things might look like based on our experience and that really gets us excited.Learning how to field collect Alterna is what will eventually show us some new and exciting color and patterns.I think I went way beyond what you asked but I was in the ramblin mood.

If you are looking for the most varied, I would suggest an area where the alterna phase is predominant and there is a large variation of the geologic ground color. I have seen that in the Davis Mountains where you may not expect it.

you are on the right track, usually it's where there's a good mixture of volcanic and sedimentary rocks in the same general area, which is common to Black Gap, Castolon, and the Xmas areas. And Norm is right, there are a million such places on private property and in Mexico that are un-sampled to date.
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