Help ID a mystery garter

[Stefan-A]

This snake popped up on the local forum, I'd like to hear your thoughts on it.













More pictures. The URL may not work right away and might give you a 403, but if you click in the address bar and hit enter, it should load.

http://rave.irc-galleria.net/l/image...b&t=1296188872

http://rave.irc-galleria.net/l/image...f&t=1296568328

http://rave.irc-galleria.net/l/image...8&t=1296457953

I know what most of you are going to guess, but be suspicious.

[guidofatherof5]

I'm leaning towards T.radix but something looks off(black blotches)
7 supralabials, 10 infralabials and lateral on row 3and 4 if I counted right.

[Stefan-A]

That's the conclusion I came to; T. radix, but something's off. I suspected that it could even be a radix x sirtalis hybrid, but I did do a little bit of googling for pictures and I did see a few T. radix that had almost no black dorsal pattern, or had just those lower spots along the upper edge of the lateral stripes. I'm sure I've seen a couple like that here, as well. But the color is nearly solid here.

[guidofatherof5]

I've got one radix(VP) with the vanishing black pattern.
That snake's black is never very dominate throughout its whole body.
I'm not sure I see any sirtalis influence but really don't know.
Very nice looking female.

I was thinking radix from the start even before I did any scale counting.
Seen a few of those in my time.

[Stefan-A]

It would be so much easier if we could see the real colours. I'm definitely not ruling out a pure T. radix at this point.

[guidofatherof5]

It's not the lack of black blotches that is throwing me.
It's her head. Very long for T.radix, in my oppinion.
Granted, I've seen a few radix female with long heads but not as a rule.

[Stefan-A]

I think that might just be the angle.

[gregmonsta]

After crossing off all the crazy thoughts/options I'm left with radix after a few zooms in and out. Very interesting pattern indeed.

[ssssnakeluvr]

I am going with radix also....

[Mommy2many]

When I first saw it, the snake reminded me of our Easterns...but not quite. Maybe the same feeling you are getting about it being a radix...but not quite. Stefan, you mentioned it could be a hybrid (right verbage?) sirtalis and radix?