Quote Originally Posted by d_virginiana View Post
Maybe find a defining characteristic (like scale counts or something) that would prove your species is non-native, and be ready to point that out to them if they ask you to prove it.
That wouldn't prove anything. Scales on his non-native sirtalis is going to be the same as any other subspecies. It's the scale configuration that makes them classified as T. sirtalis in the first place. All 13 subspecies have the same scale counts and configuration, regardless of where they occur.

Scales on a concinnus are exactly the same as they are on an eastern or a similis. That's what makes them all a T. sirtalis. Scale counts/configuration is only useful as a field I.D. tool. It can be used for example to find out if you have a T. elegans or a T. sirtalis in places where they both occur.