Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just a general question.

What locality do you think is considered quite rare nowadays.

For me, I do not think I have ever seen a West Sanderson or Iraan in the classifieds.

I have have been hunting hard but still haven't found a North Las Vegas blairs phase. I will keep it up but i'm not sure it will happen...hehe

There are a few guys I know working with West Sandersons and produce them each year. I don't know anyone producing Iraan locality.

Ill have a few. Check out some from las year.
Link

I knew you were the man to talk to about West Sandersons.

NP

Smitty-bet you wished you kept this one! Here's a W. Sandy I got From C. Smith a while back. It's one of my favorites. ST

Hey Stu,

What year is that West Sanderson? That is one of the best alterna I have ever seen.

It's a 2009 hatch. It's about 22" now. Could reach breeding size next season. Eats like a horse!

Stu,

I tried to add you on the kingsnake connect. However, it is acting weird, as always. I can not wait to see more of your West Sanderson animals from your collection. Talk to you soon.

New Mexico
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Steve W.

As well as NM, there are a variety of W TX ranges that have produced at least one alterna from which there are no captive bred offspring available.

For example:
Eagle Mountains
Indio Mountains
Beach Mountains
Guadalupe Mountains

Actually, the list is quite long. To be honest, MOST mountain ranges in W TX are not represented in the captive population. W Sanderson and Iraan are common by that standard.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Oh yeah,...and there are the biggest part of the species range which happens to fall south of a particular river which is totally (?) unrepresented in the captive universe.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

But isnt collecting wildlife in Mexico illegal? Dare if you try, but I enjoy my freedom and not having to worry about getting locked up, lol.

With the exception of the Guadalupe Mnts, those ranges are understandable because of the lack of access. Areas that are accessible that surprise me with the lack of animals in captivity would be places like 166 and northwest 118 in the Davis Mnts, Pinto Canyon and Shafter in the Chinati Mnts, and alterna from any locale from private land. But, I think that this speaks more to the unwillingness of collectors to invest their time in areas where success is not reasonably expected, and less to do with the presence of animals. I hope that before my herp career has come to an end that I will produce some of these unrepresented populations, and that some of you will do the same. I will certainly be trying.

Some of the best looking dark phase pictures I have ever seen are of Iraan animals. I am amazed no one is working with "killer" dark phase blairs from "ANY" locality.

I know someone who is working with dark phase this year. I am fortunate enough to be number 2 on their list.