Breeding in the species...

[Humble308]

I'm curious if since technically a bull snake is a gopher snake, can a bull be bred to a gopher? Sonoran gopherX bull snake =?. Some literature says they're the same snake, while others contradict it. Are the subspecies in the genus restricted to only mating within that subspecies? Any input would be appreciated.

Best regards,
Derek

[FWK]

The common name Gopher Snake, in a broad sense, refers to the species catenifer of the genus Pituophis. There are six subspecies including Bull Snakes, Pituophis catenifer sayi. All six subspecies are genetically compatible and can produce viable offspring. Additionally, Gopher Snakes (Pituophis catenifer spp.), Pine Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus spp.), some Rat Snakes (Pantherophis sp.), and some Kingsnakes/Milksnakes (Lampropeltis sp.) have proven to be compatible and have produced viable offspring as well. Here is a paper on the subject. Natural hybrids have been found in places where the ranges of certain species overlap, but they are rare. Most of these combos are known to exist only in captivity. For example, Jungle Corns (California King x Corn Snake) could not occur naturally as their ranges do not overlap. Personally I am not a fan of producing hybrids in captivity, but to each his own. However, I would be very excited to find a natural hybrid in the field. I saw a picture of a Timber Rattlesnake x Western Diamondback found in east Texas a while back, what a find that would be.

[Humble308]

FWK, thanks very much for this information. I'll give the paper a read, it looks like a ton of good info. Interesting topic for certain.

[RAD House]

I am all for breeding hybrids if you can create something healthy and viable in the market. In this case you would definitely produce healthy offspring, but I question the second point. The result of that breeding would produce an animal that looks similar to both parents but does not have pure background. I don't see much of market for it and you would most likely be stuck with all the babies for life.

[Humble308]

Originally Posted by MesoCorney

I am all for breeding hybrids if you can create something healthy and viable in the market. In this case you would definitely produce healthy offspring, but I question the second point. The result of that breeding would produce an animal that looks similar to both parents but does not have pure background. I don't see much of market for it and you would most likely be stuck with all the babies for life.

Ahhh I see. I remember reading in a few other places that hybrids can be hard to market, though at the time I didn't know that a hybrid could be as drastic as a gopher+corn snake! A gopher and bull sounds more conservative though like you said you'd end up keeping all the babies. Very interesting information nonetheless, appreciate yall clearing the fog on this a bit

Semper FI,
Derek

[FWK]

I should clarify a bit. The animal you suggested in your original question, Sonoran Gopher X Bull Snake, both being subspecies of the same species, would not actually be a hybrid but an intergrade. This intergrade is very common naturally as the ranges of these two subspecies border each other over some 1100 miles from northern New Mexico, through Texas, and into Mexico. Offspring of subspecies of the same species are known as intergrades, offspring of two different species are hybrids. Sorry I got carried away with the hybrid thing and didn't really clarify the answer to your original question.

[Humble308]

Originally Posted by FWK

I should clarify a bit. The animal you suggested in your original question, Sonoran Gopher X Bull Snake, both being subspecies of the same species, would not actually be a hybrid but an intergrade. This intergrade is very common naturally as the ranges of these two subspecies border each other over some 1100 miles from northern New Mexico, through Texas, and into Mexico. Offspring of subspecies of the same species are known as intergrades, offspring of two different species are hybrids. Sorry I got carried away with the hybrid thing and didn't really clarify the answer to your original question.

Thanks very much, this is the exact info I was looking for!