Easterns that I have met

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

could be true but im my experiences maritimes seem to be a bit smaller but that could also be just chance from being isolated

Originally Posted by aSnakeLovinBabe

I'm not even really convinced that maritimes and easterns should be separate subspecies. honestly, I look at a maritime, and I look at an eastern without a stripe, and I see the same snake. what if the maritimes in their "stronghold" are actually just isolated easterns that have happened to favor a stripeless coloration?

[Serpentine99]

Originally Posted by aSnakeLovinBabe

I'm not even really convinced that maritimes and easterns should be separate subspecies. honestly, I look at a maritime, and I look at an eastern without a stripe, and I see the same snake. what if the maritimes in their "stronghold" are actually just isolated easterns that have happened to favor a stripeless coloration?

Well although i agree they are similar, the fact is subspecies are made by a part of one species being isolated from the rest of the general population and developing unique traits. A classic example would be Darwin's findings on the variety different finches in the world, they had many adaptations(mainly beak design) that help them be more "fit" for their environment. In a few years we may see maritime be significantly different than the eastern, length for example like reed said, all because of certain mutations the maritime subspecies has gone through to become more fit for the northern environment.

[charles parenteau]

This year in Quebec a friend of mine and a well known biologist have some project. With the help of the université of Sherbrooke city(i think).

they will find if there is a difference between both sub species..(pallidullus vs sirtalis).here we have intergrade between sirtalis and pallidulus .
Maby there is no reason for calling maritime garter...be back about that this spring ....

[enigma200316]

kool, can't wait to see the results...............

[GarterGuy]

Originally Posted by aSnakeLovinBabe

I'm not even really convinced that maritimes and easterns should be separate subspecies. honestly, I look at a maritime, and I look at an eastern without a stripe, and I see the same snake. what if the maritimes in their "stronghold" are actually just isolated easterns that have happened to favor a stripeless coloration?

Yeh I know....that's the problem with a lot of subspecies. I mean San Fran. garters could just be considered the "striped" phase of Cali. redsideds. They look almost exactly alike, except one has red bars and the other red stripes. A lot of subspecies are very "subject" and often they appear and vanish all the time.
I'd be very interested in hearing the results of the study, but very fearful at the same time. I love my Maritimes, but if the subspecies is found to not be valid, then I won't be able to keep and breed them here in PA any more....which would REALLY suck!

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Originally Posted by GarterGuy

I love my Maritimes, but if the subspecies is found to not be valid, then I won't be able to keep and breed them here in PA any more....which would REALLY suck!

my hypo female I found looks identical to a maritime and not an eastern. even though she was found way outside maritime range. she also has 8 upper labial scales instead of 7. I have her and her four little ones. I live in PA so, if i ever have any problems... duh she's a maritime!

[drache]

thought I'd toss in a pic of Sammy:



or two

[Stefan-A]

She looks great, Rhea.

[drache]

thanks
I tend to think I'm biased, because she's my favourite

[stonyloam]

Beautiful! How about a full body shot of Chloe? and one of ASALB's hypo. Just for comparison. Just for fun.