Show & Tell
Two Tessera corn snakes?? Nope. One Tessera corn snake and one “Tessera-like” mutant of the species Zamenis situla (Leopard Ratsnake) found in Europe. I’ve waited years to finally acquire an example of this mutation, so I could show everyone the similarities between the Tessera gene mutation in Cornsnakes (Patherophis guttata) and the “Tessera-like” gene mutation in Leopard Ratsnake of Europe. The latter has been known in the wild range of Leopard Ratsnakes for many decades, and many herpetologists and snake lovers have found such mutants of that species in the wild. They’re perhaps uncommon in the wild, but not rare. This is one demonstration that all snakes have a common and ancient ancestor. Such mutations lie dormant in the genome of snakes, waiting for just the right partner to render such gene mutations. We hope to get eggs from a pair that I acquired in Daytona in August, 2017. Next goal is to get some wild-type Leopard Ratsnakes to start a SMR project. Fingers crossed. NO, I have never, nor will I ever cross the two species. Here is a good example of how much the Natural pattern mutants in Europe look like the Tessera corn snakes. httpss://www.google.com/search?q=leopard+rat+snake&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS698US698&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwibqvDZvs3WAhUqh1QKHahBBlUQ_AUICigB&biw=1486&bih=791#imgrc=HGP41AUzmjd6sM: . . .