My New Wandering

[GartersRock]

Thanks guys! She's a funky little snake. And yeah, the blue is in the skin, the top color is a steel grey. Sorry for the confusion!
I hope to breed her to my male possible het for hypermelanistic next season. He has a bold checkered pattern and yellow top stripe. Wonder what the babies will look like. *shrugs*

[ssssnakeluvr]

where did you get the poss het hypermelanistic??? I have a group of them I found this year, 2 males that are hypermelanistic and several males and 2 females that are poss hets, have black bellies. my friend Brian says they should carry the gene...are from the same area as the hypers.

[GartersRock]

From you.

[beaniesmommy]

Beautiful! She is really pretty. I too love her color.

Andrea

[jitami]

Thanks guys! She's a funky little snake. And yeah, the blue is in the skin, the top color is a steel grey. Sorry for the confusion!
I hope to breed her to my male possible het for hypermelanistic next season. He has a bold checkered pattern and yellow top stripe. Wonder what the babies will look like. *shrugs*

Amanda, what part of the country are you in? I just might need a baby or two if any turn out looking like their momma!

OMG, did I just say that? Don't tell my husband!

[GartersRock]

Lol! I won't tell.

I am in TX, but I ship too. Just let me know! I'll write down your name.

[ssssnakeluvr]

From you.

D'OH!!!!!!!!!!! guess I should look a little closer at who posts....

[GartersRock]

Lol!!

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Blue skin between the scales is not uncommon for some western species of garters. I have found T. ordinoides (Northwestern), T. elegans elegans (Mountain [Western Terrestrial]) and T. atratus hydrophilus (Oregon [Pacific Coast Aquatic]) all occasionally have this trait. It should be known that ordinoides, elegans, and atratus all share a close cladistic relationship (genetically). It would not surprise me that vagrans (another elegans ssp.) would also carry this trait.

The only species where I have surmised this trait to be a benefit to the animal is in the Oregon Garter (hydrophilus), as it works really well in the waters of our serpentine-rocked rivers! Great camouflage in the water!

Steven
(NW California - land of intergrades and proposed natural hybrids! 4 species; 7 garters counting subspecies))

[GartersRock]

Yes, and I have seen some easterns with blue skin as well. Really cool!
It was mostly the greatly reduced pattern that caught my attention. The blue underneath was kind of an added bonus!
Have you seen many Wanderings with this much of a reduced pattern Steven? You seem to be in the field alot!