Undescribed species
Posted: July 17th, 2016, 11:35 pm
Hi, I'm new here and looking around, I see that most of the interest is in local snake species; Correct? I am an Entomologist by hoby, but started Herping by myself just over a year ago on my new Property in San Diego County; age 70 now. Wish I had someone to come out and show me the ropes.
So far I have found 3 species of Croats on my land, including C. mitchelli, 2 morphs of Cal Kings, 1 huge Rosy, a Lyre snake, several Gophers and some striped racers. After investigating on-line and discovering the huge and colorful species diversity in the Lampropeltis genus, I bought a few to keep as pets, including some of the Mexicana complex, a pyro, and a beautiful line-bread Blairs Alterna,(my favorite).
That introduction out of the way, I wanted to see if anyone has ever seen or heard about a snake I found in Guatemala about 5 years ago, while on a Beetle and moth collecting trip, near the Honduras border. According to my friend and Guide, who works at the University in Guatemala, it was, (at the time) an undescribed species of Arboreal Viper. We took it back to the University where they hoped to breed it to another specimen they had in their dilapidated little collection room. I was told that ours was only the third specimen ever reported. It is a primarily green snake that has Croatalus-like texture and features. some of the scales are blue and the last few inches of the pointed tail are all blue(no rattles). We found it about 3 feet off the ground on a fern. if there is any one interested, I will try to post some pictures.
So far I have found 3 species of Croats on my land, including C. mitchelli, 2 morphs of Cal Kings, 1 huge Rosy, a Lyre snake, several Gophers and some striped racers. After investigating on-line and discovering the huge and colorful species diversity in the Lampropeltis genus, I bought a few to keep as pets, including some of the Mexicana complex, a pyro, and a beautiful line-bread Blairs Alterna,(my favorite).
That introduction out of the way, I wanted to see if anyone has ever seen or heard about a snake I found in Guatemala about 5 years ago, while on a Beetle and moth collecting trip, near the Honduras border. According to my friend and Guide, who works at the University in Guatemala, it was, (at the time) an undescribed species of Arboreal Viper. We took it back to the University where they hoped to breed it to another specimen they had in their dilapidated little collection room. I was told that ours was only the third specimen ever reported. It is a primarily green snake that has Croatalus-like texture and features. some of the scales are blue and the last few inches of the pointed tail are all blue(no rattles). We found it about 3 feet off the ground on a fern. if there is any one interested, I will try to post some pictures.