Rough Morning...

[jitami]

You know I spent the better part of an afternoon holding whatever it was while the neighborhood boys searched for a suitable container and begged their parents to keep it cause it was so cool. I have no idea what it truly was... guess I'm off to the calherps page...

[Stefan-A]

You know I spent the better part of an afternoon holding whatever it was while the neighborhood boys searched for a suitable container and begged their parents to keep it cause it was so cool. I have no idea what it truly was... guess I'm off to the calherps page...

Where in was it caught? There are striped snakes in California, if it happened there.

[jitami]

Yeah, California, Monterey County... but blue striped snakes? I think I would have remembered if there were red as well, such as infernalis or tetrataenia... I'm really questioning this 30 year old memory now!

[Stefan-A]

Yeah, California, Monterey County... but blue striped snakes? I think I would have remembered if there were red as well, such as infernalis or tetrataenia... I'm really questioning this 30 year old memory now!

It seems to me that patterns vary less (the overall pattern, details will of course vary between snakes) than the coloration, so striped snakes is a good place to start. Maybe one of them has a locality with a blue stripes.

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

T. s. infernalis would be my first guess, since that area is prime for them. Despite the usually red head, many come with the whole blue striping and blue ventral coloration deal..... This California native (moi) knows of no other blue striped snakes (except my blue Coast, but that's not the same); I think the closest would be the blues of the Puget, but I can't really comment on that area, as it is unfamiliar to me. Tsk, tsk.... :'

[jitami]

Thanks Steve. Infernalis w/blue but w/out red? Are ordinoides ever found that far south? Not a huge deal, just curious now

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

I can't really elaborate on your 30 year old sighting; with Thamnophis, who knows what's possible!?

No, ordinoides is not found that far south.

Steve

[jitami]

I can't really elaborate on your 30 year old sighting;

LOL Yeah, me either Thanks for giving it a shot, tho

In all honesty it was probably only a 25 year old sighting, but that doesn't make it any more clear