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Axanthic Baja Ratsnake pics

dustyrhoads Dec 13, 2010 03:21 PM

A friend of mine hatched five of these this year from two heterozygous adults.

These were taken late July in the Sonoran Desert, the natural biome habitat of this species. Look at how the Axanthic shimmers in the dappled sunlight!

First, here's the heterozygous sire:

This is his yearling Axanthic:

I have not photographed the five babies, but I have seen them. There were five axanthics out of a clutch of six from a Het x Het breeding. How's that for odds!

Dusty Rhoads
Suboc.com

Replies (13)

monklet Dec 13, 2010 08:52 PM

Just plain awesome!

btw, I really enjoyed and valued your article in HN, well worth the price of admission!
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See all my snakes at SerpenTrack.com

dustyrhoads Dec 14, 2010 10:40 AM

>>Just plain awesome!
>>
>>btw, I really enjoyed and valued your article in HN, well worth the price of admission!
>>-----
>> See all my snakes at SerpenTrack.com

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Ryan_Sikola Dec 13, 2010 11:23 PM

I know its way off, the normal baja rats remind me allot of diadem snakes minus the racer influence.

I'm in awe of these animals axanthic and normal alike!
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6.7 pituophis c. annectans
1.1 senticolis t. intermedia
1.1 rhinechis scalaris
1.2 lampropeltis m. thayeri
2.1 pantherophis g. guttatus
1.1 lampropeltis t. campbelli

1.1 turbo corns
1.1 jungle corns
1.1 thayeri hybrids (het albino)

dustyrhoads Dec 14, 2010 10:48 AM

>>I know its way off, the normal baja rats remind me allot of diadem snakes minus the racer influence.
>>
>>I'm in awe of these animals axanthic and normal alike!
>>-----

No, actually I can see some racer influence in Bajas as well. In fact, I've written about how I think there is some incipient convergence with other sight-hunters like Coluber, Psammophis, Masticophis, etc.

Thanks for your comment!

monklet Dec 14, 2010 12:49 PM

...did you mention Diadem Rat? ...I love mine...but she sure don't love me
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See all my snakes at SerpenTrack.com

Ryan_Sikola Dec 14, 2010 03:26 PM

Yes, diadem snakes. They aren't true rat snakes as they are sort of in between the rat snake and racer family.

I work with a large paki diadem at work, she hisses sometimes but is easy going. Yours sounds the opposite haha.
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6.7 pituophis c. annectans
1.1 senticolis t. intermedia
1.1 rhinechis scalaris
1.2 lampropeltis m. thayeri
2.1 pantherophis g. guttatus
1.1 lampropeltis t. campbelli

1.1 turbo corns
1.1 jungle corns
1.1 thayeri hybrids (het albino)

monklet Dec 14, 2010 04:01 PM

Mine hisses at all time while held, never stops ...and she'll take nip at you if you screw up. But for all that, she is very tractable surprisingly.

Yeah, I knonw they're not true rats ...wierd snakes and very cool in their wierdness. I love the head shape.

btw, got pics of the one you take care of?

Here's mine...

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See all my snakes at SerpenTrack.com

Ryan_Sikola Dec 16, 2010 12:56 AM

WOW your diadem snake is an excellent specimen!

Here is this old beat up half blind gal I call "Paki"

I personally think of them as 60/40 as in mostly rat/pituophis like and less racer. The ontogenic change is amazing IMO! It seems that the israel diadem (Spalerosophis diadema diadema) doesn't go through the change:

More work needs to be done on the taxon. Unfortunately, they inhabit politically unstable middle eastern nations, don't hold your breath waiting for more info.
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6.7 pituophis c. annectans
1.1 senticolis t. intermedia
1.1 rhinechis scalaris
1.2 lampropeltis m. thayeri
2.1 pantherophis g. guttatus
1.1 lampropeltis t. campbelli

1.1 turbo corns
1.1 jungle corns
1.1 thayeri hybrids (het albino)

Jay_the_Snake Dec 16, 2010 06:58 PM

Where do I get one of those at? I have always been intrigued by the Baja Ratsnake

dustyrhoads Dec 16, 2010 07:38 PM

>>Where do I get one of those at? I have always been intrigued by the Baja Ratsnake

The breeder's name is David Lee (Mel's Reptiles). Have fun pestering him for babies!

Jay_the_Snake Dec 16, 2010 07:41 PM

Do they sell out quickly? When is the best time to get a Baja? I have only seen one breeder with some all year.

dustyrhoads Dec 16, 2010 08:20 PM

>>Do they sell out quickly?

Considering that there are only 8 axanthics in the world, they probably would go fast, even at a high price.

>>When is the best time to get a Baja?

Probably late July-October. They sometimes breed later than other closely related colubrids.

Jay_the_Snake Dec 16, 2010 08:35 PM

I just want a typical Baja Ratsnake. I would wait for the axanthic, lol

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