cross breeding? is it possible?

[dillberts]

Hey, I was approached by someone and asked if it is possible to cross breed two different species of snakes I.E ball python and a brazilian rainbow. I know the likely hood of even if it was possible to get them to breed would be a miracle but I was wondering if it was physically possible? Supid question I know but I wasn't able to answer the guy so I figured I would look into it.

thanks.

dillon

[WingedWolf]

Extraordinarily unlikely. Boas and pythons are very different.
Hybrids have been created between genera before (lampropeltis and pantherophis, for example), but there's really too much disparity between boas and pythons to expect anything from such a union, even if you somehow managed to get them to breed.
(Just for starters, boas do not lay eggs).

[WingedWolf]

Here are a few links to hybrid snake pictures:

Diamond python X Jungle carpet python
http://www.kyherpsoc.org/carpetpythonsprop_files/image014.jpg

Victorian Carpet python X Bredl's python
http://www.smuggled.com/carbre1.jpg

Super Ball (Blood python X Ball python)
http://www.roussisreptiles.com/images/collection/SuperBallFront.jpg

Burmese Python X Reticulated Python
http://www.bobclark.com/images/animals/gallery/Other%20Pythons/Hybrid%20Burm_x_Retic%20%28young%29.jpg

Carpall (Carpet Python X Ball Python)
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n214/tony290984/carpalls33.jpg

[PDXErik]

That's bizarre. I wonder if they turn up sterile like mules.

[RIBBIT]

how big to carpalls get? ive never heard of those the carpets crosses are really common apparently someone at an expo bred a snake that came from a diamond x jungle male and coastal x jaguar female and a green tree python. weird!!!!!!!!!!

[gonesnakee]

That's bizarre. I wonder if they turn up sterile like mules.
Not usually almost all snakes that cross breed will breed successfully as well, specially those that are closely related to begin with like the Carpets listed above for example any of which can cross into the other successfully & breed as well. Many of the Colubrid crosses are the same way, one of the best examples are the Junglecorns (California King X Corns). As far as Boids go there has never been a successful X between a Boa & Python species. Mark

[gonesnakee]

...the carpets crosses are really common apparently someone at an expo bred a snake that came from a diamond x jungle male and coastal x jaguar female and a green tree python. weird!!!!!!!!!! Not really they are all Morelia ;) Jaguars (unless X's, all Carpets can be interbred) are a morph of the Coastal Carpet Pythons. Mark

[RIBBIT]

but the green tree python x the big mix insnt that weird?

[gonesnakee]

but the green tree python x the big mix insnt that weird?
Still both Morelia & are closely related so not really, well in my opinion anyway. The GTP X Carpets are called "Carpondros", GTPs are called "Chondros" thus the name for the X. They used to be called Chondropython viridis but are now called Morelia Viridis. Most folks still call them Chondros though. Isn't Taxonmy fun & confusing LOL Mark

[dillberts]

thanks alot guys helps me out alot

[RIBBIT]

Isn't Taxonmy fun & confusing LOL Mark
Im not sure about the first part but it sure is confusing! lol