Borrego Springs/Anza Borrego San Diego County

[DougA]

Last night's hunt found 1 Gopher Snake, 2 more DOR, 1 Shovel-nosed, and 1 Lyre. In the Santa Ysabel area, we had a fresh Calif. Kingsnake DOR. If we had only been a few minutes quicker

Question, the Gopher we saw was between Scissor's Crossing and Yaqui Wells, near Plum Canyon. It appeared lighter in color than a typical San Diego Gopher. Can the Sonoran Gopher be found in this area?

Thanks!

[Ross Padilla]

Did it look like this?

[Kyle Dickerson]

Or this?



PS. Were you the guy driving the minivan back and forth on the 78? I think I saw you.

[DougA]

Since, I can't figure out how to post images here. Here is a link to the image of the gopher.

http://tinyurl.com/2ayquh6


I was driving a black and white FJ Cruiser.

Thanks

[DougA]

In case anyone would like to see my images or correct any mis identifications. Here is the herp section of my website.

http://www.blackwaterphoto.com/Herps

Feel free to correct me on any mis-identifications.......

[Ross Padilla]

It would be better to have a full shot but going by that picture it doesn't seem to have the typical SD Gopher pattern or coloring to the blotches. The snake I posted is what you would call a typical SD pattern but the colors are pretty light. Nice website, btw.

[Eimon]

Yes, the Sonoran (influence) comes up to that area. Yours looks like the classic intergrade from what I can see in the pic.

[Ryan Sikola]

My heart skipped a beat, I thought you found a mcgurty SD gopher snake.

[DougA]

sorry what is a McGurty San Diego Gopher Snake?

[Ryan Sikola]

My avatar is the morph.

[reako45]

The pic on your link looks pure annectens to me. Eimon's way more knowledgeable about the snakes in that area, however. Need to see whole body shot. Nice looking Gopher btw.

reako45

[Eimon]

reako45, I was going to say you need to see more pits, but guess what you are right! BUT, that's a different pic than what was at that link before Check the second link, it's the Sonoran from July 9. That was funny!

[DougA]

Sorry guys, I did move the image to a new folder.

[socalherper]

Love those McGurty's !

[Jimi]

Yes, the Sonoran (influence) comes up to that area. Yours looks like the classic intergrade from what I can see in the pic.

+1, some you see there are leaning stronger to the Sonoran phenotype but really, it's an intergrade zone. I distinctly recall walking in on about a 65" beast female in the BPC campground bathroom in about 1984. She looked "pure Sonoran".

Some people hate intergrades. To me, it's just more fun variety. Trying to jam continuous variables into discrete categories is puerile, anyway. "Get over the trinomial." Ha ha.

Have fun out there, and stay healthy.

[socalherper]

Here is a pair I produced 3 years ago. McGurty's are so much more stunning in person.
Ryan that McGurty is awesome!