Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi!

I have now two snakes in my collection that I suppose that are hybrids.

This one was bought as L.g.splendida - but I am not sure if it hasn't any additionall blood from L.g.nigra - the sides of the snake looks a bit strange and the yellow rings look thin to me.

This one was bought as L.g.nigra - but I am not sure if he hasn't any splendida blood.

This one had more yellow dots earlier - now most of them dissapeared, but near the head they still are present a bit.

Maybe any of you saw anything similar and can tell me something more. I suspect that the first snake may be just a splendida locality - but I need to make some more research about it.

Any input is kindly welcome.

Best regards
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snakes.pl

hard to say the top pic looks like spendida to me(just a dark one) and the bottom kinda looks like nigra(no headshot?),its common for nigra to darken w/age,though ive never seen one w/that bright a yellow specks most nigra are pale cream to white specks,while nigritus(mex.ssp)have yellow specks,but,both may also be intergrades of splendida and nigritus the mex.ssp which is very common in certain ranges,it would be an UNnatural intergrade to bring nigra into that mix it could be done though in a captive breeding situation,are you doubting the dealer you got them from?did he produce them?or just not sure? more pics(headshots) could help i.d.,,,,thomas
T&S reptile farm

Hi!

Yes - I am just not sure. The dealer tells that they are no hybrids for sure - but I am not so sure about it.
My other splendidas looks a bit different - just not so dark.

Here are two shots of the second snake. The first picture made in full sun - so the yellow speckles are very bright. The second, more natural looking.

Both pictures made when the snake was about 9-12 months old.

Thanks for you input and best regards
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snakes.pl

yeah it looks like pure splendida to me ,just a really dark one,depending on locale it could have some nigritus(mex.black)in its line somewhere they are quite varieable as all getula are,but i dont see ANY l.g.nigra in the mix ,,,,,,,,, thomas

Not too many people keep these species compared to others.The price you paid,the size of the animal,condition and the person you got them from are the validation tools.USE THEM.I never accept animals like that on word alone.There are intergradation zones where one would look more like the other too.I would say too many elements are present to determine anything if you cant find out more info on them....Jeff

Hi!

Both snakes came from the same breeder/dealer who is very reputable in my country. He stated that this snakes are not hybrids for sure.
But the way they both look made me suspicious.

This is not so easy to be 100% when you live in country like Poland. Not many people really care about animals quality and blood purity here.

Personally - I decided to base my breeding colonies on really reputable breeders, worldwide respected - like Bob Applegate, with whom I have real pleasure to work with this year.
But on the other hand - I just wanted to know if anybody else would be suspicious about these two snakes. I don't say that they are hybrids to me - I am just suspicious.

Thanks all for your input - the hybrydisation theme is really never ending one.

Best regards
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snakes.pl

Hi

It is possible that they could be "hybrids". But, like you said, that the breeder is very reputable and honest. He may simply be breeding a line of getula that naturally where splendida and nigritus integrated. I have seen several animals very similar to yours around the Tucson, AZ area when I was herping there a couple years ago. I suspected that they were natural integrades since they have that questionable look to them. Since nigritus' range covers Southern Arizona and splendida's range extends to Southeastern Arizona, that could very well support this. This is sometimes why locality info is very important. You can try to track down the lineage of your animals if it is possible and try to figure out if it really is from a natural integrade. It is also possible that someone bred these two subspecies to create a "man-made or un-natural integrade". Hope it helps. Take care.
My Site

I have seen many splendidas that look exactly like the ones pictured, and they usually come out of Texas. They are more variable than people realize. In my view, to discuss intergradation is always premature, unless locality data is available.

Hi!

Thanks yyou all for your comments.
I am pretty sure now about the splendida - she is just very dark.
But I am a bit suspicious about the second snake still.

Once again - thanks for all comments and e-mails.

Best regards
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snakes.pl