Intergrades vs Hybrids

[GartersRock]

Yeah, I don't house different species together either. Thats just asking for it.

[Stefan-A]

Very true, however we humans can make non-naturally occurring intergrades, and THIS is truly where the controversy on intergrades is concerned. Hybrids are a totally different arena (really controversial [but this inquiring mind of mine wants to establish proof of naturally occurring hybrids... different tangent to my point!]). Anyways..... (dragging y'all along) An example of NON-natural intergrades might be a California Red-sided crossed with an Eastern or a San Francisco with a Puget.

I'd take it one step further and say that a non-natural intergrade would also be one between snakes with one or both parents from a population that does not produce intergrades in the wild. That would for example be a redsided from Idaho and an eastern from Ohio. Perhaps even if they just came from different areas where intergrades occur.

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Yes Stefan! The westernmost subpopulation of one ssp. and the easternmost of another won't naturally intergrade, whereas the easternmost of the former and the westernmost of the latter might...

Can I phrase things any more difficultly? LOL!

Steve