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Carl B just sent me some OLD pics of this snake and I felt I would post it again to see if anyone sees what was going on from the pic. The pic is about 8 years old, and pretty darn good considering these were his first ever digital pics. The scales were PRISMIC! Like that of a dragonfly. Not just in the sun and not all of em, but look about 5 rows back, 7-8 rows back, etc. It might look like its a lighting issue but as we spin the snake around I hope you can see what I'm talking about. First here is my old pic of him, this is the BIG one that was wrapped around the bottom of that garbage can in another pic.

This is the first of Carl's, see the lighter blotching? Again its not lighting. See the spot on the tail by the head? The bigger blotches half way down?? This snake was very obviously GREEN in hand, but it had something else going on as well...what is was who knows...

Another pic. What is going on with the scales?? See the side of the head? Of course it looks like a bad pic, but its not the exposure that caused differing scale coloration. Anyone seen anything like it? Anyone see what I'm talking about..better question,lol.

Pretty cool!......like the melanophores where not functioning properly here and there in the dark blotching for whatever reason(s).

Very interesting indeed!

I had a locality Miami corn that was the exact OPPOSITE of that, in that it was "hypermelanistic" in portions of it's body. It had a much darker gray background coloration, but some of the background was BLACK, and on only ONE SIDE!..LOL!......weird!!!

~Doug

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

If Jeff hadn't pointed it out I might have suspected melanophores also. But it appears a more prismatic sheen that moves with the light source like you would see in a freshly shed rainbow boa.

I've never seen it that pronouced in an LTT before. Was that snake ever put in a project?
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
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maybe that was it...it just had a bad shed and that left scales damaged all over the snake ....?....wild milks get skin damage all the time.....too wet or too dry and the skin gets all screwed up....(technical words "screwed up"....

just a thought....

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........JY

It was actually a bit of both. The real light greens were there and that color, but the sheen was prismic and spotty all over the snake. Carl never could get him feeding(and Carl is an expert's expert in my opinion)and was released.

I am thinking that if it still has the normal amount of melanin in those areas that the rest of the blotches have, then the actual skin cells in those random areas are likely aligned much differently than the rest(instead of lying flatter), which causes more of a refracting "prism" affect just as with the Rainbow boas and such. Their scale cells tend to be more angled than many other snakes, thus the prism affect.

Pretty bizarre, but as we all know....virtually ANYTHING is possible with any of natures organisms. This sort of thing has always peaked my interest!. The fascinating part with all this is....."what the heck causes these anomalies to take place?"

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

And this is another case of a pic, no matter how good or bad, not doing the animal justice. In hand things are just more obvious. You dont get to see one of these as a deli cup herper thats for sure!

That post makes it seem like you are pining for Carl B. Don't get me wrong, great fella, but there has to be a Pam Anderson video somewhere in Massachusetts right??

Just last week in a crowded bar a 6' blonde Barbie doll walks in and every guy is staring at her. She gleens the bar then sits next to me and buys me a drink and 3 shots of Petron! Now if my buddy wasnt sitting right next to me he would have never believed it! Happy to say Carl has been my friend and witness for 20 years now and he was there with his jaw on the ground when I found this guy and appreciates Monsters as much as I do. Still would rather have Pam Anderson buts thats how I roll! LOL

What does that story have to do with anything... other than letting us know that barflies find you irresistible? They down with the awesomely sweeeet prismic clothes you wear homey?

What's that joke... "If Barbie is so popular- why do you have to buy her friends"

Gerry

np

I can't believe you'd brag about being picked up by a "6' blonde Barbie doll transvestite". The adams apple would be the dead give away. You should have learned that in biology 101.

You're a piece of work, Jeff.

Dell, I know you are in Montana but is that the best piece of puss you could find??? LMAO

Maybe when you were making this up she could have spelled "Patron" correctly as she was buying it for you...
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Scott MacLeod
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1.2 T pos Sinaloan

Perfect, Dell!

-Cole

.......Some great comedy goin' on here..LMAO!!

And some milks to keep it in perspective!

~Doug

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Love those tri-colors Doug. Do you reckon that bright gold one will stay that bright?

--Dennis

Thanks Dennis!,...

Well, I sold all those since the pics were taken, but they typically darken up some and develop varying degrees of dark scale tipping that will make them less vivid as they mature into adulthood. But of course the cleaner, more contrasty hatchlings will generally be nicer as adults too.

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com