Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I wanted to share a picture of my adult pair of Bairds that I purchased from Adam Block, in 2002. Earlier posts talked about Texas & Mexican Bairds, if I am correct, Adam got his original pair of Bairds (screamer male!)from someone in Arizona. Now that my anmals have reached adulthood, I think they have some Mexican gene influence. Of course, I could be wrong, any thoughts from you other owners of Adam's Bairds lineage? Sorry about the Heads not showing up in the picture.

Thanks, Ken
Central Texas

>>I wanted to share a picture of my adult pair of Bairds that I purchased from Adam Block, in 2002. Earlier posts talked about Texas & Mexican Bairds, if I am correct, Adam got his original pair of Bairds (screamer male!)from someone in Arizona. Now that my anmals have reached adulthood, I think they have some Mexican gene influence. Of course, I could be wrong, any thoughts from you other owners of Adam's Bairds lineage? Sorry about the Heads not showing up in the picture.
>>
>>Thanks, Ken
>>Central Texas
>>
>>

That story has been around for a few years. At first, it was implied that they were crosses, then denied, then admitted they were, etc. I don't think anyone WILL ever know the truth, if the truth can even be told. In other words, someone may have crossed the Mexicans in and sold them to Adam's supplier without telling even HIM. Follow? Phenotypically (and with what went around a few years ago), it is a STRONG probability that they are crosses.

Actually, there is no doubt in my mind about it. I can't PROVE it, though.
KJ

I agree that it looks like a cross between the two localities of P. bairdi. That may not be something that I personally would do, but keep in mind that these are not biological subspecies. So crossing them does not produce an intergrade like it does when you cross a P. o. obsoletus with a P. o. quadrivittatus. That cross produces a true intergrade. I think it all depends what you are looking for. I am not into designer snakes or basement science projects myself, but there seem to be many who are.

The snake in the picture looks beautiful. What is there not to like?

It would be nice if the breeder who produced this line had been more honest about how this color line came about, but that sort of thing is all too common in this trade. People will pay big bucks for an unusual looking animal. Wild types seem to go for much less no matter how nice they look. The dishonesty seems to be economically driven, and we as a community seem to feed into it.

Rick

Picture of a young Gray Rat Snake

>>I agree that it looks like a cross between the two localities of P. bairdi. That may not be something that I personally would do, but keep in mind that these are not biological subspecies.

Ahh, but is that only because nobody has studied them yet? I've yet to come across ANY modern-day research indicating there is evidence that the species in monophyletic. From personal experience with both lines, I will say that I consider them to beVERY, VERY different animals.

KJ