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Curiously, my female, '03 Brazos Island ratsnake seems to be getting darker with each shed. This is what she looked like the day before her most recent shed...

This is what she looked like just after her shed...

This is our male, '03 Brazos Island ratsnake for comparison...

And, here is another female from near Freer, s. TX, to show a light colored P. g. meahllmorum...

I'm wondering if any of the Texans out there, or anyone, has heard of s. TX Plains rats that get very dark like this. I know there are populations in the Northern Plains that produce some dark specimens. There's the "chocolate" emoryi. But I've never heard of any very dark ones from anywhere in s. TX.

Thanks for any info....

Terry

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Ratsnake Haven: Calico and hypo Chinese beauty snakes, Mandarin ratsnakes, Chinese twin-spotted ratsnakes, South Korean Dione's ratsnake, leopard snakes, Great Plains ratsnakes, and corn snakes

Terry,
I have seen many from creamy tan to darker brown ground color.
I have not determined the factor(s) of these color variations.
It could be habitat (microhabitat) and/or geography. But...from one Co. alone (Nueces) there are some variations from North to South within the county. The lighter ones I have are from the Southeast portion of the county and up the coast on the East. The darker ones are found in the opposite direction in the North and West.
Maybe, since the eastern portion of Nueces Co. is coastline and their is LOTS of sand the lighter color is for camoflauge purposes..
You know as well as me, though, there is always exceptions.......

BTW, Nice snakes.....I like the Freer Reverse Stripe the best.....
John Lassiter

John,

Thanks for the comments. I'm getting more and more interested in these meahllmorum all the time. They make great pets too. Can't wait to see some from Nueces Co.

I know what you mean about the variation. There's always some. I just thought there was quite a bit from these two Brazos Island snakes. I believe the very light color is associated with the hot temps in s. TX, plus the barren landscape in many areas, like near the beaches. Maybe the dark color is associated with a busier, more vegetated habitat, but I don't know s. TX that well.

I really like the light coloration these snakes can get. I also think the dark color is interesting. As I said, it reminds me of the chocolate Plains rat, and I'm just curious as to whether there's sometimes a very dark form, maybe even some kind of morph happening in s. TX somewhere. Probably morph isn't the best term, because I doubt there's a recessive mutation, or anything.

I'm thinking I might pick up a couple more meahllmorum next summer. Keep in touch. Gosh..it's -15*F. here this morning. Will this cold never end? LOL. Thanks again for all the info...

TC

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Ratsnake Haven: Calico and hypo Chinese beauty snakes, Mandarin ratsnakes, Chinese twin-spotted ratsnakes, South Korean Dione's ratsnake, leopard snakes, Great Plains ratsnakes, and corn snakes