Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The forum seems to be pretty dead latly so I thought I would try to start some discussion. I sure hate to see a snake so majestic and beautiful as the retic being ignored, I think this forum should definetly be as big as the animal its here for. So...
I recently read the article describing the new subspecies of reticulatus. It defines two new subspecies as P. Reticulatus Jampeanus and P Reticulatus Saputrai, these animals originating from Tanahjampea and Seleyar islands respectfully. Now personaly Im excited by this as I feel it may lead to more local specific subspecies being defined. This I feal should in some part help to push the need for more subspecies specific animals to be reproduced together. There is a big trend to mix the dwarf blood into other morphs. I personaly find it exciting prospect to own dwarf morphs, at the same time I hope that the future I will still be able to find in other words purebred locale retics. And I would like to take this time to vote the Ambon retic be redefined as P. Reticulatus Debordicus. Ohh and as far as the dwarf morphs are conserned, these Dwarf Tigers that Mike Wilbanks produced are awsome! Great Job Mike!

-Shaun DeBord

Shaun,
Where were you able to find the full paper on P. Reticulatus Jampeanus? Do you have an electronic copy you can send me? Thanks.

Personally I plan to breed true the dwarf subspecies using diverse bloodlines as much as possible. The captive population of these animals is and will always be small. I do worry what effect the morph craze will have on the future of these animals.
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Regards,
Bob Garby

Someone correct me if im wrong please. Wouldn't you think that this would be a totally worng time for re-structure of this taxon. THe way I understand it you can't even get near any of the islands these dwarfs are collected from. So is this proposal being drawn from captive-bred specimens and field collected specimens? Just wondering?

The way it is writin it would seem to me these are based on field studys. I think with the obvious diffrences being so apperant that this reserch has been long overdue. It would seem to me to be a better now than ever story, Of course im not a scientist but im glad that sombody has finaly looked into the directon wich is widely ignored. Ill of course leave it to opinon, if they are deserving of subspecies status but the report seems to be well writin to me, and of course makes a very strong argument in favor of the change.

-SD