Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I took a few pics of my "thornscrub" rat hatchings. This is the southernmost race of the great plains rat, here in the U.S. These are most likely from coastal south Texas. They aren't seen in the hobby much at all, maybe due to their subdued colors, but I like them. They get bigger than the average emoryi, and have fewer blotches.
natural sunlight



indoor light

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Matt Kauffman

n/p
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Matt Kauffman

Those are some great looking little thornscrubs, Matt!
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-Toby Brock
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

Thanks Tobey. I know you've seen plenty of these down your way.
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Matt Kauffman

>>Thanks Tobey. I know you've seen plenty of these down your way.
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>>Matt Kauffman

Yeah, I've seen a few...

BTW, my friend Todd is taking over our special Nueces County meahllmorum project. I think he will probably have babies next year...
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-Toby Brock
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

I hope he has success. I've been waiting to see what happens with those.
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Matt Kauffman

they are a dime a dozen in southern TX. this one was crossing road one night. like the baby pics; never seen a baby. "thornscrub rat" is a kickass name for a rat snake too.

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2 tham radix
1 Chicago Tham s. semifasciatus
2 elaphe vulpina
1 gray tiger salamander
4 Aphonopelma hentzi
1 G rosea
1 Haplo minax
1 Brachy angustum
1 Brachy sabulosum
1 Brachy vagans
1 Cent. hentzi scorp

Cool pic. I love the variation in this subspecies. Here's some pics of my adults.

female

male


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Matt Kauffman

What county was that one from, if you don't mind me asking?
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Matt Kauffman

Kingsville (Kleberg Co.) Majority of snakes I seen nightcruising were the thornscrub rats. Have found them in Kenedy Co. and Freer area too. They all looked the same to me. I don't live in TX but i love visiting.
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2 tham radix
1 Chicago Tham s. semifasciatus
2 elaphe vulpina
1 gray tiger salamander
4 Aphonopelma hentzi
1 G rosea
1 Haplo minax
1 Brachy angustum
1 Brachy sabulosum
1 Brachy vagans
1 Cent. hentzi scorp

forgot, I have seen baby rat snakes in Kleberg county. I posted this pic b4 and it stumped some of the forum members. This snake looks like a baby meahllmorum to me.

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2 tham radix
1 Chicago Tham s. semifasciatus
2 elaphe vulpina
1 gray tiger salamander
4 Aphonopelma hentzi
1 G rosea
1 Haplo minax
1 Brachy angustum
1 Brachy sabulosum
1 Brachy vagans
1 Cent. hentzi scorp

I remember this one...

I have seen hundreds (if not more) of meahllmorum over the last 30+ years, and many have been in Kleberg County. I think I may have reserved judgement on that snake, and would love to see what it looked like a couple years later. Most likely meahllmorum, but it does remind me of lindheimeri in some ways too...

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-Toby Brock
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

I agree with Tobey, that's a very interesting looking hatchling. I wouldn't be suprised if there were some hybidizing between meahllmorum and lindhimeri.
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Matt Kauffman