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Posted by regalringneck on March 19, 2001 at 15:53:36:

I know you speedys probably resent a predator like a ringneck even visiting your forum...but I thot you'd like a piece of a thread from the field collecting forum:)

Posted by regalringneck on March 19, 2001 at 14:00:36:

In Reply to: Variability in Coachwhips posted by Jerry Feldner on March 19, 2001 at 13:44:09:

Indeed, tho Id have to admit all my black pockets are in S central az: florence to tucson to sasabe w to a-hoe/opcnm. Think too how a black coachwhip heats up / digests big cnemis / but also sticks out to redtails like a sore thumb...I think the tan buggers blend in best. None in Az are as deep a red tho as the San Diego Cty. whips. I have also seen 50% melanistic/red! Wonderful snakes, much better captives than generally recognized. I maintained the display flagellum/biliniatus @ ASU for a number of years....gr8t/smart snakes, just cant expect to ever mellow them down much.
cheers, jg

: There is considerable variability in coachwhips. There must be a good reason that there are so many ssp of M. flagellum but, except for a few (i.e. ruddocki, fuliginosus) I would say that morphologically, the rest are about the same. Be that as it may, even here in AZ, there is tremendous diversity in color pattern among Coachwhips. There are "pockets" all over AZ where snakes are very black. Just a few miles away, none of the snakes are black. In the non-black populations, there is tremendous diversity in the pattern and color of the neck. It is very confusing why these black populations breed true in their small bailiwicks while all around them the "normal" snakes live. Somebody, as distasteful as it may seem, needs to breed "normals" with blacks and see what happens. I know what should happen but will it?
: As for the aggressive golden-headed snake in the Mojave, it was probably hot and just exhibiting the amazing diversity of the species. I have seen yellowish or gold colored coachwhips in a lot of the Mojave.

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: I know you speedys probably resent a predator like a ringneck even visiting your forum...but I thot you'd like a piece of a thread from the field collecting forum:) : Posted by regalringneck on March 19, 2001 at 14:00:36: : In Reply to: Variability in Coachwhips posted by Jerry Feldner on March 19, 2001 at 13:44:09: : Indeed, tho Id have to admit all my black pockets are in S central az: florence to tucson to sasabe w to a-hoe/opcnm. Think too how a black coachwhip heats up / digests big cnemis / but also sticks out to redtails like a sore thumb...I think the tan buggers blend in best. None in Az are as deep a red tho as the San Diego Cty. whips. I have also seen 50% melanistic/red! Wonderful snakes, much better captives than generally recognized. I maintained the display flagellum/biliniatus @ ASU for a number of years....gr8t/smart snakes, just cant expect to ever mellow them down much. : cheers, jg : : There is considerable variability in coachwhips. There must be a good reason that there are so many ssp of M. flagellum but, except for a few (i.e. ruddocki, fuliginosus) I would say that morphologically, the rest are about the same. Be that as it may, even here in AZ, there is tremendous diversity in color pattern among Coachwhips. There are "pockets" all over AZ where snakes are very black. Just a few miles away, none of the snakes are black. In the non-black populations, there is tremendous diversity in the pattern and color of the neck. It is very confusing why these black populations breed true in their small bailiwicks while all around them the "normal" snakes live. Somebody, as distasteful as it may seem, needs to breed "normals" with blacks and see what happens. I know what should happen but will it? : : As for the aggressive golden-headed snake in the Mojave, it was probably hot and just exhibiting the amazing diversity of the species. I have seen yellowish or gold colored coachwhips in a lot of the Mojave.

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