Posted by:
Kelly_Haller
at Fri Jul 30 11:07:30 2010 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Kelly_Haller ]
Whenever you run across a specimen that you are unsure of, the two quick checks that will tell you a lot right off are:
1. Do the supralabials directly contact the orbit of the eye.
2. Are the anterior parietal scales in broad or minor contact.
With possible hybrids, you will be checking these morphological characteristics as well as other pattern and color attributes and seeing which are apparent and which overlap on a given animal. Hybrids can definitely be confusing when dealing with species that are this closely related. This is very similar to the problems involved when trying to ID hybrids between specimens of the Python molurus complex. This is why I am so opposed to the intentional hybridization of closely related boid taxa. It makes it extremely difficult in some cases to maintain a pure captive linage with some of these species.
Kelly
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Zack, that is correct and also..... - Kelly_Haller, Fri Jul 30 11:07:30 2010