I wonder?

[copperhead]

Yesterday, i think it was, i woke up to find my tiger snake mating with the copperhead he was staying with. I didn't think it was possible but it happened (see crappy pics attatched). I sent an email away to the leading herpetologist in tassie, Ian Norton, heres what he had to say;

"I've never heard of it, although some have suggested that hybridisation is
perhaps a possibility given that the taxonomy of the two species is in fact
similar enough to suggest reclassification of Austrelaps to Notechis. If
indeed the mating proved successful, it would be a defining moment in the
evolutionary history of herpetology in Australia. Hang onto that copperhead,
I'll be interested to see what if anything develops."

so hopefully it was successful and we'll see what develops.

 

[da_donkey]

WOW double WOW,

This is very interesting i wonder if any fertilisation will take place?

Donk

 

[DameJacquie]

wow, thats exciting. you might have some little tigerheads on the way!

Vote for me ! http://www.aussiepythons.com/showthread.php?t=49686 lol

 

[mitchdiamond]

Very cool.I hope it works.

 

[nocajudo]

sick, what do you put on your liccence if they breed like under the code number

 

[phoenix]

yooooooour joking!!!!.....well lets hope nothing comes of it.....

 

[MrBredli]

...it would be a defining moment in the
evolutionary history of herpetology in Australia. .

Pfft! ... Not likely...

 

[phoenix]

defining moment in evolution......OMG I wish I could say what I want too....but i will say something Imo thats a very silly thing to have done and even more silly to hope that it would produce offspring.

 

[mitchdiamond]

May I ask why were they housed together?

 

[da_donkey]

Dont you think that it may be of importance?

If they were to breed in captivity (and im saying a big IF) who is to say that they are not "bumping uglies" in the wild.

Im not 100% sure but i think both species distribution is fairly wide and cross commonly.

Donk

 

[elapid68]

May I ask why were they housed together?

:shock::shock::shock:
I was wondering that myself. I'm surprised the Copperhead didn't make a meal of the Tiger.

 

[cma_369]

by the looks of the pics, the copperhead had other ideas

 

[mitchdiamond]

Most venomous snakes are reptile eaters so it's suprising they didn't have a go at each other.

 

[Snake Catcher Victoria]

The pics you took arnt really proof of a mating unfortunatly, looks like they might be going through the motions but...nahh but yeh stranger things have happened i spose.
I hope nothing comes of it,and im sure nothing will

 

[mitchdiamond]

I don't think the female will be fertile,but stranger things have happened.

 

[pythoness]

forgive ignorance, being a python chick,,,,,..(with little in depth knowledge of elapids)...,, do they have the same kind of young ie, eggs/live.
even my limited understanding of biology would tell me that an egg layer and a live barer could never interbreed (despite all the stupid roumers that tiapans are breeding with coastals pfft)
so Q is do they both have eggs or live young?

 

[RevDaniel]

would be interesting if hatchlings come out of this.

 

[Snake Catcher Victoria]

both live bearers pythoness,but still very different.Thes two have occupied the same habitats in the same areas for a very long time and it hasnt ever occured naturally, that i know of.
The people at n.e.r.d. would definiatly be able to achieve it artificially i would imagine,but theyre still to busy with comas etc..

 

[phoenix]

would be interesting if hatchlings come out of this.

if, but, when...sorry mate it aint going to happen!

 

[mitchdiamond]

Would they be called ''hatchys'' if they were born alive?