Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What, if anything, will come of this? Anyone had success breeding between the two subspecies?

I've seen unproductive mating every month of the year with my Mandarins. You have to put them through the appropriate cooling period if you want babies out of them.

Personally, I'd discourage any attempts to cool the adults and get babies from the two. It is likely they will be recognized as separate species soon and offspring from those two would be hybrids. Not that I have anything against hybrids, as long as the parent species are very well established in captivity. I just don't think we're there with Sanzinia just yet.

Doug T

>>What, if anything, will come of this? Anyone had success breeding between the two subspecies?
>>

Thanks for the reply Doug. My basement is quite cool, and I started the cooling process early. The male was showing no interest with the green female I have, and noting what appeared to be a pre-ovulation swell in the mandarin female (the only mandarin phase I have), I put him in.

I agree that there are not enough Sanzinia in captivity, but seeing the opportunity, I let it happen. I have found them locked up at least four times, each lasting several hours at a minimum.

I’m not much of a splitter – probably more of a clumper. The interest shown by the male, and the ability to copulate steers me away from the conclusion that they will be found to be distinct species. If hybrid babies do result, it will be very interesting to the species/subspecies question if they are fertile.

Personally, I'm kind of in the same ballpark as you when it comes to their taxonomy. I think Subspecies is more appropriate. My guess is that if you put them through the appropriate cooling, they'll produce fertile hybrid babies.

Then again, I emailed Frank Glaw on the topic and he's pretty sure that species status will become accepted. Apparently Greens and Mandarins have just as many differences as Mad' Ground Boas and Dumeril's.

Anyone interested in reading up on the Taxonomy can hit the link below. It's actually not so technical that us non-scientists can get something out of it.

Doug T

New Sanzinia Taxonomy