Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Since it's so snowy and cold here in Montana, I thought an identification quiz might be a nice way to brighten the day. Dell will post Part 2 later today. Most of these photos have been posted before, so DON'T look through previous posts to find the answers - that's cheating and will earn you a failing grade!

The quiz photos include both captive and field shots. Some photos were taken by myself, while others belong to Dell or "Jose Ole". A few of these may be pretty easy, while others will not...

Directions: Identify the following animals to the subspecific level using scientific names (common names can also be included at the participant's discression). Intergradient populations are fair game. An extra point will be awarded for correct locality. An answer key will be posted later in the week, along with the winner's name.

Enjoy!
-Cole

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ok, #1 thru #15 ALL TRIANGULUM!!!!!! WHAT DID I WIN? OH,I win #8 cool.Thanks

L8r

p.s. #10 is nice and Golden looking.

Good answer Shannon.

My answer was going to be a little more specific... all WESTERN triangulum. We got to get a couple ugly easterns in your collection Cole!

Great looking critters as always.

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Joe

All good answers, but going even more specific..

All Western triangulum NORTH OF 30 DEG LATITUDE.
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Mark

While you ARE correct, give it a shot for realz! Come on! I dare ya!

-Cole

I'd never call easterns "ugly"! They're simply of more muted, earthen-toned coloration. Give the quiz a shot! I promise not to give anyone a hard time for their efforts. Just do it.

-Cole

Not all of em are drab earth toned...

I think brown, black and gray totally count as earth-tones but that's definitely not a 'dull' snake! Nice!

I never said they were "drab". I said they were more "muted" and of "earthen tones". Nothing negative about that at all! I was hinting at a subtle beauty, since they don't have the flash and pizaz of the more western and southern forms, but still pull off a visually pleasing look. As I've told you before, I keep easterns and think they're great!

-Cole

Sneaky, sneaky! Thanks for holding off and letting others play - I know you'd pick out a good number of them.

-Cole

Cole,

So unfair for never having been to any of these places! =)

1. gentilis; Lyon Co., CO
2. multistriata; Sheridan Co., MT
3. multistriata; Cherry Co., NB
4. syspila; Marion Co., MO
5. taylori; Garfield Co., UT
6. multistriata
7. multistriata; MT
8. multistriata; SD
9. taylori; Garfield Co., UT
10. gentilis; Golden Co., CO
11. multistriata
12. multistriata
13. multistriata
14. gentilis; Weld Co., CO
15. multistriata; Sheridan Co., MT

This game blows!

Mitch

Who is this Mitch guy!
Bloody hell, I think he missed only one....and not by much!
I´m impressed Mitch......
Jeff
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Let there be triangulum and lo, the milkhead was born.

Mitch, dude, you oly missed 2, but got 4 extra points for correct locality (I gave you points for correct state OR county/state combos). That's like 113%. Been talking to "Jose", Jeff, or Shannon?! LOL Nah, I reckon you're just that good. Apparently I need to take a bunch of new photos that a few of you observant guys haven't seen!

Did you get your spring itenerary worked out?

-Cole

Cole,

Yup, I just got permission from my wife (yes, when you have a newborn arriving in March you NEED permission to leave!) to leave at the end of May, or beginning of June, for a week. So, Montana and Wyoming will be my one trip this year. I'm looking forward to herping areas I've never seen before.

As for your photo quiz, I recognized several of the photos, but for a lot of them they simply fell into subspecific categories. They all have their own unique look you know! Especially those gentilis. So, which two did I miss by the way?

Mitch

Mitch,

You missed #5, which is a spotted animal from Pennington Co., SD stock, and #11 which is a multistrata X gentilis intergrade from Weld Co., CO. You nailed the locality on #1, #7 (Yellowstone Co.), #8 (another Pennington Co.), and #14.

-Cole

Below are the answers to Part 1 of the quiz. This was sort of a warm-up/test to see if there was any interest, though it seems there was little. I've been seriously considering putting up a "for real" contest with a "for real" prize (is that legal on the forum???). The contest would be composed of captive and field shots of North American milks, including froms from the Atlantic Coast to the Great Basin - Any form found north of the US/Mexico border would be fair game. Any thoughts, suggestons, criticisms or other input are welcome. I'm thinking that perhaps this contest would run the week prior to our annual "Names with Faces" thread.

Now for the answers:
1. L. t. gentilis - Lyons, Boulder Co., CO
2. L. t. multistrata - Sheridan Co., NE
3. L. t. multistrata - Sheridan Co., NE
4. L. t. syspila - St. Francois Co., MO
5. L. t. multistrata - Pennington Co., SD
6. L. t. multistrata - Cherry Co., NE
7. L. t. multistrata - Yellowstone Co., MT
8. L. t. multistrata - Pennington Co., SD
9. L. t. taylori - Rifle, Garfield Co., CO
10. L. t. gentilis - Golden, Jefferson Co., CO
11. L. t. multistrata X gentilis - Weld Co., CO
12. L. t. multistrata - Stillwater Co., MT
13. L. t. multistrata - Carbon Co., MT
14. L. t. multistrata X gentilis - Weld Co., CO
15. L. t. multistrata - Thomas Co., NE

-Cole