Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Alterna hobbyists,
Well, I have been lurking alterna forum for some time now and I am think it is about time to add one or two to my collection, adding some gray amongst the array of red, white, and black of my pyros and zonata. Anyhow, as a newbie, just wanted to get some basic questions outta the way:
1. Is there a specific name for alterna that have little to no orange on them? I am talking about those specimens that are almost all speckled in black and some white.
2. Is there a specific locality that produces these speckled looking alterna, or are they just abberant looking ones that pop up?

Thanks
-Zach

I don't know if we're talking about the same animals or not, but D. Shores calls his granite. I don't know if these are hybrids or what. Anyone out there who has seen these, R.S.V.P.

>>I don't know if we're talking about the same animals or not, but D. Shores calls his granite. I don't know if these are hybrids or what. Anyone out there who has seen these, R.S.V.P.

Those Granites Don Shores has are L. m. mexicana not alterna......

The speckled alterna are called just that....speckled alterna....not granite......
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...
www.coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com

I am/was confused on this as well. I think what you are looking for is this:

The gray ones with black bands and no or almost no red would be alterna phase

the ones with the red on them would be considered blairs phase.

Now, this could be completely wrong, as i just recently picked up my first trio of 277 alterna. They are solid gray with black bands and NO red.

Feel free to correct me if im wrong, and i know yall will.
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Chris - TX

2.2 Splendida
1.1 Nigrita
1.1 Ruthveni
0.0.3 277 Alterna

>>Hi Alterna hobbyists,
>>Well, I have been lurking alterna forum for some time now and I am think it is about time to add one or two to my collection, adding some gray amongst the array of red, white, and black of my pyros and zonata. Anyhow, as a newbie, just wanted to get some basic questions outta the way:
>>1. Is there a specific name for alterna that have little to no orange on them? I am talking about those specimens that are almost all speckled in black and some white.
>>2. Is there a specific locality that produces these speckled looking alterna, or are they just abberant looking ones that pop up?

1) Most of the speckled looking ones look alterna phase but some are intermediates....Some are so speckled there is not telling what phase they are......No scientific name other than Lampropeltis alterna.....most just call them speckled alterna.

2) The Black Gap and River Road are notorious for producing those speckled alterna.......but there are many nice generics out there with the same look.

-----
John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...
www.coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com