Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been working in the field hardcore for almost 20 years with western Milk Snakes. Starting in UT moving into AZ, then down to Mexico, and back up to NV. There's a lot of debate of what is what. After reading the thread from a week or so ago I thought I would add my very quick two cents on the subject. All snakes in this are ones I've found in the field.

This first one is a Northern UT. For awhile this population was thought to be a Milk / Pyro cross. It was later found out they were just odd (Cause they really weren't found in the wild before) and nothing more than Taylori.

This is the first Milk Snake found in NV and was written up in herp review as well as donated to MVZ. I always suspected triangulum were found in NV. I spent 10 nights trying diferent areas and conditions before I found this guy. I've seen one DOR since. Hopefully, that will change in a few days when I return. This to me is Taylori

This is your standard Taylori. I found this guy in central UT. Taylori doesn't get much better than this. Sorry for the blur. I'm not a great photographer at all. probably, because I rather be herping than clickin lol!! Actually, that is it.

This is a N. AZ Milk as found. To me all N. AZ populations of triangulum are Taylori. I've seen some AZ Milks that were hard to tell apart from the UT populations.

Another N. AZ Milk as found.

And another

Some of my captive stock that just shot for this post. Sorry but two of the animals are in blue and look terrible. They on the other hand are brilliant!! All Taylori

So at this point you might be wondering if I consider any of these three states Milks Celeanops? Sure do, the S.E. AZ populations (Cochise Co). I've been fortunate to have found four of these S.E. AZ Milks. This is a pair I collected in 2002 before they were protected. They breed great and produced but, I couldn't give the things away so I left them with a friend in CA when I moved to AZ 7 years ago.
They're doing great and making out to be fine pets. Wish I could have brought them here. Oh well. Lot's of milk guys argue about what is what in AZ. It's all in fun. Now it's tme to spend the next months observing and taking notes on more.

Paul Lynum

Great post. Now go find some more.

Awesome post!

Great post!

Wish I had time and money to hunt for cool snakes! Maybe if I'm lucky, 30 years from now

That first snake is REALLY different to me at least, I still see a "Pyro" look to it...it just looks different than the rest in my opinion.

Thanks for sharing,
Rusty

Do you see any Pyros while out hunting?

From the "way too scientific" report that I skimmed, it appears that there are two subspecies of Pyros that are divided by the Mogollon Rim.

I would be amazing to see any photos that you've taken.

Thanks!!!

Outside of Gopher Snakes, Pyros are the easiest snake for me to find state wide. I've got pyros figured out really well. He's a couple wild ones.

Back to Milks!!!

Taylori

It's not always fun and games. Sometimes this happens. Makes you try harder

Hope you enjoyed

Hasta

Paul Lynum

Great shots, thank you for posting!!!!

Very Very cool!

Paul,

Thank you for posting and sharing your views. I think you made an excellent post and I certinaly enjoyed seeing pictures of the milks from the various states. I am longing for more actually.

Have you made your way further east in search of syspila by chnace? If yes I would love to see what you've found.

Dave
DNS Reptiles - Milk Snakes

Awesome post completly absurd they thought those taylori were pyro crosses you could find that amount of crossovers in a central ks gentilis, very variable snakes those western milks are and when I say western milks I mean celaenops, multistrata, taylori, and gentilis, all very similar, just like annulata are a bit similar to amaura, and that syspila, temporalis(east coast syspila that got seperated by triangulum), and triangulum can be a bit similar I call these the east side triangulum and amaura and annulata the south side. the only thing is when it comes to the west side milks only the extreme geographics really stand out, and you get a bit of a "big" mix in between each one. Awesome post regardless and would love to see more, especially in my collection lol
at any rate
Cheers
Brandon DeCavele

Hi Paul

Any local data on the central UT Milk.

Jason

Jason, You can email me or look me up on FB. FB would be the best, plus I have a ton of field pics up on there too.

PL

Paul, Great set of photos & post on the milksnakes of the West & Southwest, thanks for sharing...JF

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-Cole

That first crossover snake is cooler then cool Paul.
Thanks for posting all those pics.Getting tired of looking at the usual stuff here.Nice to see something different.
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"He's down in the basement staring at his snakes " My Wife

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Doug L