Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here’s an e-mail I sent to some folks. If anyone else can help that didn’t get the info, let me know, even if you’ve only found 1 alterna.
To anyone who herps West Texas and keeps good records:
I am working on a simple research paper for my Biology 1301 class. My professor said I could do a paper on the distribution of any herp species, if enough info is available. I wanted to do the C. horridus range in Texas, but my deadline is soon and I don’t have enough time to gather all the info I want to do a sufficient paper. I am now doing alterna because it will be easier to get the info in time. Some people that post on forums and message boards with requests like this receive many accusations and threats, so I am trying to gain all my info through e-mail or the mail. I just don’t want people to think I am a super-collector or that I am just trying to strategize on how to find alterna (they’re not even my favorite West TX snake). I rarely keep anything I find (unless it’s dead), and almost never hunt in search of a specific species. I hate to ramble on about this, but if I got an e-mail like this and didn’t know the sender, I would be suspicious, so I feel I should verify my intentions. I am just trying to create a current listing of as many sightings as I can find and pinpoint them on a map for the project to examine population densities. What I could use, if you guys are willing to supply the information, is:
Any and all info on alterna you have observed, dead or alive, especially the location and mileage. I could also use photographs that correspond with the sightings, date, time, conditions, whether on road, cut, or in the field, and sex. I am specifically referring to specimens found in Texas. I have Troy Hibbitts’ list through 2001, and have gathered a bit of information from kingsnake.com’s alterna page and Tennant’s Texas Snakes book, but if you know of any other online sites that list location down to the mile, that would help a lot. Also, if you know of anyone who might be able to help that I haven’t e-mailed, I’d like to know. I will probably be in San Antonio next weekend, so if you have written information that you don’t want to type up, I could meet you somewhere at the expo, take it to be photocopied, and return it to you.
Thanks,
Brandon Bowers
(281) 370-4792
metalshrek@yahoo.com
I also have addresses at brbowers@nhmccd.edu and brandon@texassnakes.net , but they are not accepting the test e-mails I have tried to send, so just use the one above.

Dixon has another book with all of the county localities for alterna for the state of Texas. It's from A&M press in 1987. You could also write all of the major university collections for their holdings. The preserved specimens they have generally have exact locality data. The holdings will be slim however. Good luck with the study.

I don't mean to be negative or condescending in any way, but, I am curious on how you plan to obtain "density" data from locality information?

Not density as a concrete entity that can be exactly measured, but a comparison to guess at which area could have the densist alterna population based on the number of sightings. The problem with doing this is that it would be a biased guess depending on where most of the reporting herpers get there information. For example, suppose you have area a and area b and both have the same densities. Well obviously if area b were herped more frequently than area a, more snakes would be found there and it would seem to have a denser population.

Well good luck with your project.

It seems to me that you are really going to show a "frequency of herping observation density" more than a population density.

The best areas for studying and obtaining alterna population data are undoubtedly away from the roadways and areas that everyone hikes and hunts. So much of the available habitat is not accessible due to private or remoteness issues. One of these areas would be a more ideal area to ascertain population data. It's not hard to do if you take the time to get to know the landowners and gain their trust.

I hope you find the data you need for your project. Cheers.