Does anyone have a (current) listing of all the recognized sbsps of C. cerastes, pref with ranges?
Thanks,
Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."
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Sidewinders of the old West
rearfang
Oct 02, 2004 08:39 AM
Replies (3)
tommyboy
Oct 02, 2004 08:59 PM
C.c.cerastes Mojave Desert Sidewinder
C.c.cercobombus Sonoran Desert Sidewinder
C.c.laterorepens Colorado Desert Sidewinder
I dont know of any websites showing comparison photos. There are accepted scale counts that are used to determine between the sub species. It is also said that the proximal rattle of the Mojave is brown while that of the other two more southern sub species is black. This is generally the case but not a rule that can be set in stone as you will find examples that do not follow(scale counts included) these guidelines. The best way to be sure is to collect them yourself in a county where only and individual sub specie exists.
Tom
tommyboy
Oct 03, 2004 01:55 AM
Please forgive my first post as I was somewhat loopy on sinus medication and somehow thought you asked for photos. Here are the ranges you requested.
cerastes- east/southeast California, southern Nevada, extreme southwest Utah, northwest Arizona
cercobombus- central to south central Arizona
laterorepens- extreme southeast California, west to southwest Arizona
the sub specie cerastes overlaps with laterorepens
the sub specie cercobombus overlaps with laterorepens
Tom
rearfang
Oct 03, 2004 01:29 PM
Thanks for the info update. I have a Mojave and, yes the proximal rattle is brown. He is also a very clean looking bone white with light brown small markings (except the tail).
What brought the question up was a friend of mine bought one (locality unknown) that (and her litter of 9-as it turned out she was gravid when he bought her) were much darker in shade (especially in the markings) as well as laterally, than mine even when mine was a netonate.
I would love to collect one but the closest I ever got was explaining to some English tourists what the lovely markings they found in the sand were made by...just before they dashed for their car (lol)
Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."
