Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone,

It has been quite a while since I have posted on these message boards. I was very busy finishing up my degree, which coupled with my young family has kept me very busy.

Anyway, in going through some of the old posts I have seen a few questions posted regarding midbody scale counts, labial counts, etc. I am very interested in the genetic relationships between the different Epicrates species. First, does anyone know if any ribosomal DNA sequencing has been done within this group? Second, don't you think this type of data would be very informative?

I hope to have the time to participate more frequently on this forum, as the Epicrates are my favorite animals to work with. And to echo earlier comments, everyone on this board if very friendly and eager to share experiences.

Thanks for your input.

Timothy

Dr. Dean,
...I do not know of anyone doing any DNA work to sort out the Rainbow Boas. My guess is that E. cenchria cenchria, E. cenchria gaigei and E. cenchria barbouri are much more closely related to each other than to any of the other subspecies. I would also guess that crassus and alvarezi and assissi are all three more closely related to each other than to any of the other subspecies. My third guess is that E.c. maurus is not as closely related to any of the other subspecies as the other subspecies are to each other. Guyana Rainbows? I have no guess. This discussion and to a greater extent the similar discussion about the relationships of the subspecies of Boa constrictor have been going on for a long time.
Jeff

>>Hello everyone,
>>
>>It has been quite a while since I have posted on these message boards. I was very busy finishing up my degree, which coupled with my young family has kept me very busy.
>>
>>Anyway, in going through some of the old posts I have seen a few questions posted regarding midbody scale counts, labial counts, etc. I am very interested in the genetic relationships between the different Epicrates species. First, does anyone know if any ribosomal DNA sequencing has been done within this group? Second, don't you think this type of data would be very informative?
>>
>>I hope to have the time to participate more frequently on this forum, as the Epicrates are my favorite animals to work with. And to echo earlier comments, everyone on this board if very friendly and eager to share experiences.
>>
>>Thanks for your input.
>>
>>Timothy

Thanks for the post Jeff. Your right, this discussion has gone on for quite a while!!

Oh yes, you can just call me Tim, not Dr. Dean. I don't want to develop a complex.

Have a great day everyone.

Tim