It seems that Hypomelanistic Nerodia fasciata sp. in the wild seems to be a trait that isn't necessarily rare, but not common either. I have found some areas with rather high concentrations of hypomelanistic Nerodia fasciata fasciata, but never an area with a "complete" population. The highest I have ever found averaged out to 2 hypomelanistic for 1 standard. There is an area in Northwest Florida that I go to that seems to have the same trait in the population with the highest "pure hypomelanisitic" population centered around a lake, becoming rare the further from the lake that I go. I'll have to get a picture next time I see one there.

In any case, I REALLY love the way hypomelanistic broad-banded water snakes look. You are quite lucky to have a population on land owned by you so people don't go and catch them all. Nice find!

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Hide Replies ]