Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Doug, here are some REALLY crappy pics of the sub-adult and his venter. Patton says this is common with the Va. Beach snakes.

That is very interesting, I wonder if this locale is located near the actual beach, as some of the animals around here exhibit similar bellies, not just kings, but our local rat snakes as well, which usually have a more corn type pattern but smaller.
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Todd Hughes

Good question Todd. I will check with Phil or maybe he can jump in if he is looking. Phil, oh Phil, where are you? LOL. I have to check my juvenile pair after they shed to see if theirs are this white also.

I know my Monster Island milks have a tendancy to be white-bellied as well. Maybe its got to do with basking on sand??

Very interesting. Maybe. I am not sure how close to the beach this guys parents were. We shall find out soon enough. I just checked the juveniles and while their venters have lots of white, they are nothing like that sub-adult male. I have a S. MD. juvenile that has a venter that is mostly black. I never used to pay much attention to the venters but that is going to change now.

Well, the beach thing sounds good "in theory", but I've seen many different looks from that same area too, and I'm sure many do not have a high percentage white belly. If you think about it, the belly is never exposed to the sun anyway, so it's hard to imagine that would be a factor at all, but the rest of the snake is though, and the lighter belly "could" just be a sort of "bi-product" of the REST of the whiter pattern. Who the heck knows?

Another thing is, if this were indeed the case, the Outer Banks(sticticeps) would probably have a whiter belly too, and they definitely do not, it is very typically patterned as the rest of the mainland population. OKK's are known to range the sand dunes on the beaches themselves just yards from the ocean.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I concur with Dougs statements. This could be from isolated populations being isomorphic. My four sticticeps show very typical belly patterns and as stated they inhabit the beach and surrounding areas. But who am I to say? Will say two more things though. Very cool Eastern and it would be an interesting study to do.

Scott

thats REALLY a nice looking king, i love the Va ones like that WOW!!!

,,,,,,,,thomas davis
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Morphs... just like baseball cards BUT ALIVE, how cool is that???

my website www.barmollysplace.com

Joe, dude that is one intense Eastern!

Scott

Thank you sir. Once again, all credit goes to Phil Patton on him. Damn Phil, you are going to make me wait another year to take credit for easterns I PRODUCE!!!! LOL. As far as looks go, Va. Beach and Pender Co. SC get my vote so far.

My pleasure there Joe, it is an "AWESOME EASTERN"! You might as well take credit for them, you produced them right...LOL! Yes SC, NC and VA Easterns are among the best of the best.

Scott

Scott, that did not come out right. I meant I have to wait until the ones I got from him are adults to produce my own. HE produced these. LOL.

Well you can still take the credit, just a little early....LOL!

Scott

All of the WC Va. Bch. Easterns that I have in my collection
were found within 100' to a half mile of the ocean, and
they all have white ventors. All produce high white, with white
ventor offspring. I hope this helps.
-Phil
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Work is the curse of
the drinking class!

Must just be that locale because Doug is right in that if the beach itself had something to do with it the OBX would certainly have white venters. That male is over 36 inches now!! Great snake too. Cannot wait for our herping trips this year brother. High hopes!!!