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"New" California rattlesnakes

Posted: August 22nd, 2016, 9:57 am
by Jeff
A recent Ray Hoser piece describes two new California Rattlesnakes

http://www.smuggled.com/issue-33-pages-34-41.pdf

I have seen hundreds of oreganus in the central Coast Ranges, and his new species "funki", as defined, is subsumed in the normal range of variation in coastal oreganus by my recollection.

I have only seen a couple dozen helleri in the field, but the new form "idlewildi" seems also to be non-diagnoseable as I have seen coastal scrub snakes that match his description.

The range of ontogenetic and intrapopulational variation, as well as existence of habitat morphs in Pacific Rattlers seem to be well beyond Hoser's knowledge of these snakes, and think that they are instant synonyms.

Jeff

Re: "New" California rattlesnakes

Posted: August 22nd, 2016, 7:25 pm
by Owen
Jeff wrote:A recent Ray Hoser piece describes two new California Rattlesnakes

http://www.smuggled.com/issue-33-pages-34-41.pdf

I have seen hundreds of oreganus in the central Coast Ranges, and his new species "funki", as defined, is subsumed in the normal range of variation in coastal oreganus by my recollection.

I have only seen a couple dozen helleri in the field, but the new form "idlewildi" seems also to be non-diagnoseable as I have seen coastal scrub snakes that match his description.

The range of ontogenetic and intrapopulational variation, as well as existence of habitat morphs in Pacific Rattlers seem to be well beyond Hoser's knowledge of these snakes, and think that they are instant synonyms.

Jeff
It's April 1st, right? ;)

Just read the diagnosis for C. funki and his paper needs some serious peer review.
...it is readily distinguished from that species by the presence of a distinct whiteish-yellow band
or stripe running across the head between eyes and distinct black borders of the darker brown dorsal body blotches, versus
neither in C. oreganus, or at best only indistinct for one or other or both traits.
Given how variable the patterns are and the fact that both patterns occur in the exact same range, just seems to be a weak case IMHO for species elevation from pattern morph. Am I not seeing enough in the description?

Re: "New" California rattlesnakes

Posted: August 22nd, 2016, 11:14 pm
by Jeroen Speybroeck
Please. Ignore. Hoser.

Re: "New" California rattlesnakes

Posted: August 23rd, 2016, 12:05 pm
by Fieldnotes
The more I research the Idyllwild rattlers, the more i'm intrigued — http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatrepti ... 7zuDrQvui5

Re: "New" California rattlesnakes

Posted: August 23rd, 2016, 3:11 pm
by Chad M. Lane
Bwahaha! < The only reply to Hoser's work.



Cheers,
Chad

Re: "New" California rattlesnakes

Posted: August 23rd, 2016, 5:32 pm
by Fieldnotes
Image
From Idyllwild, Riverside County — Californiaherps.com

If others have pictures of 'Crotalus h. idyllwildi' from Idyllwild or San Jacinto Mtns please post.

Re: "New" California rattlesnakes

Posted: August 23rd, 2016, 8:44 pm
by John Koerner
From the National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24463169

This seems to be a legit and fascinating topic.

However, I think there is a difference between "venom variation within a species" ... and it somehow being a different species altogether.

Re: "New" California rattlesnakes

Posted: August 24th, 2016, 4:33 pm
by Steve Bledsoe
Variations in venom components within the same rattlesnake species is nothing new. Crotalus s. scutulatus is known to have 3 different venom types across it's US range from California to west Texas. It seems ridiculous that a difference like this warrants an elevation of small populations to species status. But then again, the term "species" itself doesn't seem to have much meaning anymore these days.

I'm about ready to dust off my old volumes of Wright & Wright and go back to using Masticophis, Elaphe and Leptotyphlops! :beer:

Re: "New" California rattlesnakes

Posted: August 24th, 2016, 7:03 pm
by FrogO_Oeyes
I prefer not to even give this man's name any repeat hits online. He's his own editor, publisher, and reviewer. I think the global consensus on his "publications" is to ignore them for ten years, and when necessary resurrect or describe taxa properly. That way his papers become officially forgotten while scientifically credible sources get the credit they deserve for the work and methodologies they adhere to.

His previous papers on cobras and rattlesnakes were the subject of an email from me to the late Dr. Joseph Collins, and were quickly followed by CNAH rejection of the relevant usages. Not long afterward, a worldwide group of scientists made relevant submissions in Zootaxa and to ICZN regarding the non-publication methods of his work. Things I noted to Dr Collins, and noted in these papers, were that papers did not appear to be properly printed and deposited, and that the "publication" in question was both edited and published by the author, eliminating any real 'peer review' or 'publication'.

Re: "New" California rattlesnakes

Posted: August 25th, 2016, 12:48 am
by Porter
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Re: "New" California rattlesnakes

Posted: August 25th, 2016, 2:26 am
by Jeroen Speybroeck
FrogO_Oeyes wrote:I prefer not to even give this man's name any repeat hits online. He's his own editor, publisher, and reviewer. I think the global consensus on his "publications" is to ignore them for ten years, and when necessary resurrect or describe taxa properly. That way his papers become officially forgotten while scientifically credible sources get the credit they deserve for the work and methodologies they adhere to.

His previous papers on cobras and rattlesnakes were the subject of an email from me to the late Dr. Joseph Collins, and were quickly followed by CNAH rejection of the relevant usages. Not long afterward, a worldwide group of scientists made relevant submissions in Zootaxa and to ICZN regarding the non-publication methods of his work. Things I noted to Dr Collins, and noted in these papers, were that papers did not appear to be properly printed and deposited, and that the "publication" in question was both edited and published by the author, eliminating any real 'peer review' or 'publication'.
:thumb:

Re: "New" California rattlesnakes

Posted: August 25th, 2016, 2:54 pm
by El Garia
OP and everyone else in this thread are already familiar with Hoser and the controversy that surrounds his work. If a couple of OGs familiar with the locality in question want to talk about a Hoser topic, that's their call. It comes across as petty to say that anything attached to Hoser shouldn't be discussed. Y'all are taking the would-be herpetologist, that is Hoser, too seriously. And frankly, taking yourselves too seriously.

Derek

Re: "New" California rattlesnakes

Posted: August 25th, 2016, 3:05 pm
by Jeroen Speybroeck
.

Re: "New" California rattlesnakes

Posted: August 25th, 2016, 8:48 pm
by Porter
Jeroen Speybroeck wrote:.
:lol:

Re: "New" California rattlesnakes

Posted: August 25th, 2016, 10:08 pm
by Jeroen Speybroeck
Spending time to discuss if Hoser's ravings hold any truth is taking him too seriously. Assuming that I would think to be able to have a say in what people may or may not discuss around here is taking me too seriously.

Re: "New" California rattlesnakes

Posted: August 27th, 2016, 6:19 pm
by El Garia
Looking at my post, now, I can see that I used too harsh of a tone. I apologize for that.

Derek