Speckled rattlesnake colors!!!

[CrotalusR#1]

These are my speckled rattlesnakes ( crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus). They are not morphs, they are all the same species just from different ranges.



img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/486/19516092936_acd8d0149f_k.jpg[/img]

[CrotalusR#1]

Hopefully that picture works for every one, if not please let me know!

[Minkness]

Oh wow! Beautiful snakes! I particularly love that very pale one!

[Jim Smith]

Wow, what beautiful animals with amazing variation! I know that you say that they are not morphs, but in a way they are aren't they? If a naturally occurring morph say the very light colored snake offers some benefit (like better camo), then that snake would have a better chance to reproduce etc., etc, etc. after a while they breed true to color because the darker phased babies don't make it to adulthood to breed, We just call them different phases based on the environment they live in.

[EL Ziggy]

Wow, those are amazing.

[prairiepanda]

Originally Posted by Jim Smith

Wow, what beautiful animals with amazing variation! I know that you say that they are not morphs, but in a way they are aren't they?

Normally regional variations are referred to as "locales", differentiated from "morphs" because regular morphs are normally controlled by a small number of genes that can easily be manipulated in selective breeding projects. Locality morphs, or "phases", are often a lot less cut-and-dry and result from complicated gene combinations that are difficult to pinpoint. Personally, I consider them all to be morphs, but I don't breed so the distinction is not important to me.

Beautiful snakes, by the way!

[CrotalusR#1]

I wouldn't call them morphs, just localities. There colors are that way because of there surroundings not genetic mutations, they are not aberrant or polymorphic.

[D Grade]

Love the white local. What areas are those found in?