Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Aside from the other color phases and the local of the thayeri, what are the main differences between alterna greybands and the thayeri graybands? What about mixing the species...making a hybrid (although i generally dont agree with that). I have always wanted a grey band, and i just aquired a hatchling thayeri, so i was just wondering. (sorry, i have no pics).

Gray Bands(Alterna) and Thayeri(Mexicana) are different species, and you won't find too many fans of cross breeding them on this forum, including me. I do not think that their ranges overlap in the wild, though they do get close. It is said that Alterna are closely related to Mexicana. Some of the many,many color phases of Mexicana look like Alterna, and are often mis-identified in the pet trade as Gray Banded Kings. If I were you, and wanted to breed my Thayeri, I would get another Thayeri.

Greg
1.1 Thayeri
1.0 Alterna

im not a fan of cross breeding either, and i wasnt thinking of breeding just yet anyway. Myking is still a neonate. i was just curious. Thanks for the reply.

The main morphological difference between thayeri and alterna is ventral scale count. Alterna have a ventral scale count range of 211-230, mexicana [thayeri] 190-211. Alterna and thayeri do not come in contact in the wild. They are seperated by an area called the Anticline of Arteaga. Thayeri exist south of the AA, and alterna north of the AA. -Dan Vermilya

I believe one of the prime differences between the mexicana and alterna groups is the color of the iris.