Reply #12: Actually, Aragorn's bands are whitish. (warning: pics) [View All]

[Ladyhawk]

They're almost cream, but mostly white. His wife, Arwen, has even whiter bands. I'm pretty sure most Lampropeltis pyromelana pyromelana are close to white. (After a quick look, I found a couple of that have pale yellow bands, but most have cream or white.) There is a color phase of scarlet kingsnake that has bright yellow bands. I believe those specimens are found in Florida and they look an awfully lot like coral snakes. Red on black, venom lack. (Just remember, this doesn't hold true in some Central and South American countries. I've seen coral snakes from these countries with white bands and others with red on black. The rhyme is good for the US, though.

It's a good thing coral snakes are usually pretty mellow because they pack a wallop.

In places, Arwen's white "bands" look like letters. Have a look at this:



She has a "U" on the back third of her body. It's filled in with black. Mid-body you can read the message, "Hi." Then toward her front half, you can plainly see "U" "Lambda." I think she's calling me a dyke. Not very PC, is it? ;)

BTW, Aragorn's "red" bands are more orangish. Arwen's are more "reddish." Both snakes are an attempt to breed away from black bands that get wider dorsally. In such snakes, the black bands connect and the red is in the shape of a triangle on each side of the snake. They're still very pretty.

Aragorn's black bands are very narrow. He's a top specimen. Here's a more typical-looking Arizona:



Here's one that I believe has the gene for hypomelanism. Hypo = less. Melanism = black. What you get is a beautiful mostly red and white creature. I think the guy that bred these calls them Applegate Arizona Mt. Kingsnakes. And I bet they cost a LOT of money.