Todd, I kinda like those little snakes too. The natural intergrades from West TX are very nice in a much more natural way.

I just read, in Schulz ('96), that Smith et al (1994), after creating the "meahllmorum" ssp, that meahllmorum has 45.5, or less, dorsal blotches, and that emoryi (including intermontana) has 45, or more. So, my cross, at 44 blotches, is right near that medium zone and actually falls in with meahllmorum.

Let me tell you part of the reason I like these intergrades from West TX. "Intermontana" is one of the most distinct of the western forms of guttatus. The meahllmorum from se. TX are also very disctinct. "Intermontana" is the smallest and some of the meahllmorum are the largest. The intergrade gives you something inbetween. It's also inbetween in other ways, such as girth, color, pattern, etc.

When I crossed "intermontana" and meahllmorum (Brazos Island) I was trying to get the best from both of those ssps. I would like to compare the results to some w/c from W. TX too. Thanks for reading...

Terry

[ Show Entire Thread ]