Help with beauty snake ID?

[merlyn923]

Hi all,

I recently picked up a beauty snake, which I was assured by both the seller and beauty snake collector is a Taiwan beauty. However, as I've done more research and looked at tons of pictures, I'm questioning the ID. I'm thinking either Chinese, Mocquard's, or an intergrade on this one. Does anyone have any experience/insight on this?

http://i.imgur.com/Fdg4TfE.jpg

[IW17]

No way to tell from just pics. And honestly even in person they all look so much alike as babies. I believe there is a scale count that proves species but I'm not 100%

[Slithersaurus]

It looks like a Mocquard's beauty to me.... I could be wrong though.

[riddick07]

No idea but this was one of the pages I found when trying to figure out the differences when I first came across the beauty snakes.

A Visual Guide to the Differences in Beauty Snake Subspecies - Ratsnake Information (http://www.ratsnakefoundation.org/index.php/ratsnake-species/asian-ratsnakes/20-members/asian-ratsnakes3/212-a-visual-guide-to-the-differences-in-beauty-snake-subspecies)

[prairiepanda]

The dorsal pattern makes me want to say Chinese beauty but babies all look so similar...can you get photos of the belly and side shots of the head?

[IW17]

No idea but this was one of the pages I found when trying to figure out the differences when I first came across the beauty snakes.

A Visual Guide to the Differences in Beauty Snake Subspecies - Ratsnake Information (http://www.ratsnakefoundation.org/index.php/ratsnake-species/asian-ratsnakes/20-members/asian-ratsnakes3/212-a-visual-guide-to-the-differences-in-beauty-snake-subspecies)

I keep this guide bookmarked. It really is helpful with adults and even juveniles to an extent but babies change so much I'd be hesitant to put much faith in it.

[PsychoSnake]

Yeah it doesn't look like a typical Taiwan to me either. The pattern doesn't seem right. Give it some age and see if the pattern becomes more typical.