Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Had the opportunity to visit John Ginter and his collection of Pituophis yesterday. Very inspiring to see so many species and locality types within the same hour or so that I had previously known only in photos or in some cases (the island forms) not at all. Thank you John for the visit and tour and what a fine group of animals. My personal favorite was that Kankakee Bull! I left there thinking (and saying out loud), I've got to get one of those Kankakee bulls someday. Absolutely stunning!
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"The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."

Lucky chum! ...I'd be in pit heaven!
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See all my snakes at SerpenTrack.com

Thank you very much for kind words Jim. I enjoyed the opportunity to share my collection with a fellow Pituophis enthusiast. It was good to see you and the family again.....

Your post indicated that you enjoyed seeing the island forms plural... Alas I wish it were true. The collection is a relatively complete look at the Genus Pituophis but it lacks 3 of the 4 recognized island forms. As of yet P.c. pumilus is the only island form that is known in collections......to the best of my knowledge. Maybe the folks over at the LA Zoo can can muster the permits to collect the other three making it possible for these to be private collections

1996 CB Kankakee Co. ILL P.c. sayi

What Brad said! I got myself somewhat lost in the transition from pumilus through vertebralis, bimaris, mugitus, the various forms of sayi, the deppei and jani, etc. In other words, I was in the Pit zone! What a day! And thanks for posting that photo of the Kankakee bull. That the same individual?

Our power is finally back on out here after being down for about 20 hours or so. We and snakes are all OK but ALL got uncomfortably warm during the night. Back to business as unusual here in our little desert town! Let me know when you get out this way and I'll introduce you to my few Pits.

Cheers!
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"The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."

Back when I visited Ginter in 2003, my head was all over the place when I saw his collection!! Insane, locality specimens!!! I was completely stoked!!!!!!!!

I could barely even focus!!! I was so excited!!!!!
Everything was picture perfect, but I remember that my faves were his Stillwater hypo bulls, black pines, and deppei deppei.

His Burlington County, NJ locality adult male northern pine was the biggest freaking northern pine I have EVER seen!!

Thanks John!
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Genesis 1:1

So envious! I see Ginter as sort of the George Washington of Pits, like the founding father of keeping and breeding pituophis.

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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.