different woma subspecies?

PatrickT · 08-11-16, 03:34 AM

I wonder if some research was done ito that.

I have two woma pythons. A female and a male. What strikes me is that they scale structure appears different. Its hard to tell but the male looks almost like its scales are rough / keeled while the female appears like any other woma python.

riddick07 · 08-11-16, 06:46 AM

I don't think there is but they could be two different localities.

franks · 08-11-16, 07:26 AM

Hopefully shauny can weigh in since he lives there. It is my understanding that the aussies are fairly conscientious about the woma localities. There are differences between woma localities.

SerpentineDream · 08-11-16, 09:09 AM

I know there can be a significant difference in size depending upon locality, with womas from southern localities reaching lengths of up to 8 feet (as opposed to 4.5 to 6 feet), but not sure if there are other differences.

PatrickT · 08-11-16, 09:44 AM

The size issue i know as well but as i said, his scales look keeled and those of the female not. Its really cool but also strange

RAD House · 08-11-16, 10:58 AM

I wonder if there is some sexual dimorphism occurring?

PatrickT · 08-11-16, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MesoCorney

I wonder if there is some sexual dimorphism occurring?

could also be an issue but is any snake species know where the genders are either smooth or rough scaled?

**Andy_G** · 08-11-16, 01:51 PM

I'm guessing it would be locality and not sexual dimorphism. Bullsnakes, for example, also have a variance in how keeled their scales are as well, and it has to do with geographical range/locality.

brandonh · 08-12-16, 02:11 AM

There is a similar topic here in PA with mountain earthsnakes some are weakly keeled and others are smooth not to be confused with the smooth earthsnake. There have been studies done that actually suggests the snake species is in the middle of evolving into a smooth snake as that would benefit this species much more as it spends much time under ground in rodent burrows and abandon ant tunnels

PatrickT · 08-13-16, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonh

There is a similar topic here in PA with mountain earthsnakes some are weakly keeled and others are smooth not to be confused with the smooth earthsnake. There have been studies done that actually suggests the snake species is in the middle of evolving into a smooth snake as that would benefit this species much more as it spends much time under ground in rodent burrows and abandon ant tunnels

thats interesting. Maybe the woma python undergoes a similar process?

Australia was much more wet 40.000 year ago. The landscape changed dramatical during the last 40.000 years so may the species is in the process of splitting?

brandonh · 08-15-16, 05:39 AM

It is very possible that they are in the process spitting. I don't think they are necessarily going through the same process as the earth snakes as here because woma's don't spend a lot if any time under ground. So if they are changing i think it would be something along the lines as into sub species. As you said the landscape has changed dramatically in the last 40,000 years when that happens the animals must adapt to that. We have ask what would be more beneficial to this species keels or no keels I don't know all that much about their habits maybe someone here can fill that in for us. Maybe this process is more like the earthsnake process then i think and thats what we are starting to see here.

Derek Roddy · 08-15-16, 08:57 AM

The scalation differences are locality variance.

There is varying opinions that some of the locality forms in Western Australia to be a secondary subspecies but, just as the BHPs.... Nothing has been done to study/change this other than opinion.

Cheers
D

Captain837 · 08-15-16, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Roddy

The scalation differences are locality variance.

There is varying opinions that some of the locality forms in Western Australia to be a secondary subspecies but, just as the BHPs.... Nothing has been done to study/change this other than opinion.

Cheers
D

I would say if you want any definitive information regarding the differences between location specific womas or subspecies, you will need to look at those in Australia. The fact that it is illegal to export them made it impossible (from what I understand) for anyone outside of there to focus on local specific breeding.

On another note, what you are experiencing could be what is called in dog breeding a "throw back". Every once in a while in a litter of pure bred dogs you will get a trait to pop up that resembles one of the early breeds used to create the current breed you are working with. It could be progression in adaptation of the species or regression to something that was before.

Derek Roddy · 08-15-16, 12:03 PM

I have looked in Australia..... Several times and have several friend there who do this stuff for a living as well as I have participated in studies myself.

Cheers
D

Captain837 · 08-15-16, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Roddy

I have looked in Australia..... Several times and have several friend there who do this stuff for a living as well as I have participated in studies myself.

Cheers
D

Derek, your reputation preceds yourself. I was in no way questioning your input on this subject. If it was recieved that way I apologize. I was just trying to guide the op in the direction of a source for additional reliable info on the subject.