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This male was produced by Mr. Hillson last year from his Big Monmouth Co. male to that stunning Burlington Co. female. I'm calling him a central NJ eastern king because his lineage is not descended from a specific county or more precise locale. Also, I looked at a NJ map, scratched the top of my mellon and profoundly stated....hmm, well, it's kinda in the middle there ...and shazam!....central NJ eastern came to me, whaddya think of my logic (LOL). Thanks for looking.

Will

>>This male was produced by Mr. Hillson last year from his Big Monmouth Co. male to that stunning Burlington Co. female. I'm calling him a central NJ eastern king because his lineage is not descended from a specific county or more precise locale. Also, I looked at a NJ map, scratched the top of my mellon and profoundly stated....hmm, well, it's kinda in the middle there ...and shazam!....central NJ eastern came to me, whaddya think of my logic (LOL). Thanks for looking.
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>>Will
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Hey Will,

How about calling them "New Jersey Pine Barrens" Eastern king Snakes, since both counties are in the Pine Barrens, although most of Monmouth is not included in the Pine Lands National Reserve. Just a thought.

J.D.

I am not very familiar with the geography of NJ. Is that entire area (Monmouth Co., Burlington Co., etc.) considered pine barrens habitat, or does the Pine Barrens refer to an isolated area within portions of those counties (like a park or preserve)? If folks felt that such a designation would be more accurate and descriptive, I'd certainly go for it. Thanks again.

Will

Will,

This was taken from Howard P. Boyd's book, "A field Guide To The Pine Barrens Of New Jersey" I hope this helps, and by the way get your map of New Jersey out.

"The pine barrens is a broad expance of relatively level land lying between the tidal strip along the east coast and the Delaware river valley on the west. The area lies variously from one to 10 miles inland from and roughly parallel to the seacoast, and formerly extended south nearly 90 miles from Asbury Park and Freehold in Monmouth County to Woodbine and Cape May Court house in Cape May county. It also extends, or formerly did extend, inland across southern New Jersey in places nearly 40 miles in width to New Egypt in Ocean county; Wrightstown, Pemberton, Vincentown, and Medford in Burlington County; Atco, Pine Hill, Clemonton, and Blackwood in Camden County; Williamstown, Glassboro, and Newfield in Glouster County; Elmer, Parvin State Park near Centerton in Salem County; and Bridgeton, Vineland, Millville, and Port elizabeth in Cumberland County."

" THE PINE BARRENS IS A UNIQUE REGION OF SANDY, ACIDIC, AND STERILE SOILS MADE UP OF COARSE SANDS AND GRAVELS DEPOSITED BY ANCIENT SEAS. tHESE ACIDIC SOILS ARE HIGH IN IRON CONTENT BUT LOW IN CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, AND POTASH.wATER DRAINS RAPIDLY THROUGH LAYERS OF THESE POROUS SOILS TO FORM VAST UNDERGROUND RESERVOIRS, LEAVING THE SURFACE DROUGHTY IN SPITE OF AN AVERAGE RAINFALL OF NEARLY 45 INCHES PER YEAR.

"THE PINE BARRENS IS A REGION FORESTED WITH PINES, OAKS, AND CEDARS, WITH AN UNDERSTORY OF MAINLY HEATH-LIKE SHRUBS. IT IS A REGION THAT LACKS IN DIVERSITY OF PLANT FORMS, WITH A RESULTANT IMPACT UPON ANIMAL FORMS. THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE PINE BARRENS ECOLOGY RESULT IN AN UNUSUAL FLORA AND FAUNA. a FEW PLANTS AND ANIMALS ARE KNOWN ONLY FROM THE NEW JERSEY PINE BARRENS OR FROM SIMILAR NEARBY "ISLAND" HABITATS. sEVERAL OTHERS WHICH ALSO OCCUR HERE ALSO OCCUR ELESWHERE IN A FEW ISOLATED AREAS MANY MILES AWAY, WHILE MANY SPECIES THAT ARE COMMON HERE ARE RARE ELSEWHERE."

"It is generally beleived that present pinelands flora and fauna developed only after the retreat of the Wisconsin Ice, or within the past 12,000 to 10,000 years."

Thank you so much, your previous post was very helpful. From now on those snakes will be known as Pine Barrens Eastern Kingsnakes. Again I greatly appreciate your help. Thank you.

Will

Will,
I am glad that you liked the idea. By the way I highly recommend Howard's book on the Pine Barrens if you or anyone else is interested in the subject. My father actually used to host a radio program and had him on a few times and he had very interesting things to say. He also had on Jack Hanna and the newly out of the closet James McGreevey and many other interesting guests, but thats a totally different subject.

J.D.