Reptile & Amphibian Forums

aren't you supposed to be brumating? ahahaha...

You think there are still some (big) surprises left to find in ole Mexico with regard to mexicana types? (I do)

If you had to bet, would you bet for or against a contact zone with intergradation/hybridization?

Forky

I am brumating! The snakes, on the hand... Well, nearly all the big ones are in cold storage, but the kids are feeding all winter and that's what I've been shooting.

You already know the answers to some of your questions. As for new stuff, you know the answer is yes. I just hope we (including you) are able to continue working and exploring new areas of Mexico over the next several years. Next summer will be here sooner that we think!

As for contact zones/intergradation, I'd prefer not to speculate here on the forum. Although I'd like to think we have some idea of what's going on (and what the DNA will reveal), it could be a lot messier than I'd prefer and there could be real surprises--so I'll skip the armchair scenario stuff (unless I'm in your backyard with a cerveza). If these are relatively recent speciation events, with incomplete lineage separation and/or areas of secondary contact, making taxonomic decisions could be a real challenge. We'll just have to wait and see what shakes out. I only wish those things weren't so dang hard to find in the field! Keep your calendar open for late July-early August!

Cheers,

Bob

I'll let those mtDNA dudes hack it out in the lab, I'd prefer finding them in the field anyday.

mucho cervezas!
Jose Ole