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Gray-banded Kings, or alterna, (as most afficianados usually refer to them) are one of North America's most fascinating and stunning serpents. While no two snakes of any species look exactly alike, the array of colors and patterns found in this species are unrivaled. Roughly classified as "alterna" phase (narrow rings) and "blairs" phase (wide saddles), these distinctions blur, and really represent end points on a continuum. Perhaps more important is the diversity present within each locality. Click on thumbnails below to view larger images. |
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| Black Gap - this
locality is located in southwest Brewster county, just to the northeast
of Big Bend National Park. It is known from fewer than 50
specimens of alterna and is most well known for its wide array of
colors and patterns. Most snakes are dark phase animals with
distinct white highlights. Extremely speckled and nearly
patternless animals are known. offspring are individually priced - usually from $50-150; exceptional specimens may be more |
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| Sanderson - located
in western Terrell county, Sanderson is perhaps almost as diverse a
locality as Black Gap; however, snakes from this locality tend to be a
bit more "eastern" in appearance, with heavier black borders
and a higher proportion of "blairs" phase animals.
offspring are individually priced - usually from $50-100; exceptional specimens may be more |
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| Alpine - located
in the Del Norte Mts of northern Brewster county, this locality is also
characterized by quite variable animals, although most in this locality
tend towards "western"-looking alterna morphs. Ground
coloration of most tends towards a dark gray or buckskin, unlike eastern
specimens.
offspring are individually priced, usually from $75-150; exceptional specimens my be more |
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| River Road -
located in southwestern Presidio
county, this locality is noted for its high band count alterna morphs,
as well as a high incidence of speckled or "busy"
patterns. Most snakes are a medium gray in ground color.
offspring are individually priced, usually from $50-100; exceptional specimens may be more |
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| Sheffield - located
on the border of Terrell and Pecos counties, just to the west of the
Pecos River, this is a fairly typical "eastern"
locality. Only a handful of snakes are known from the area.
Of the known specimens, blairs phase snakes predominate, with
approximately equal proportions of light and dark animals.
offspring individually priced, usually from $40-75; exceptional specimens may be more |
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| Loma Alta - located
in northeastern Val Verde county, in the eyes of many, this location
epitomizes beauty in Gray-banded Kingsnakes. Light phase snakes
seem to make up a high percentage of animals in this population, with
blairs and alterna phase animals occurring in equal proportions.
offspring individually priced, usually from $40-75; exceptional specimens may be more |
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| Davis Mts - located
in Jeff Davis county, virtually all snakes from this location are medium
to dark alterna morphs with most specimens exhibiting some degree of
speckling - with the speckling running towards the extremes exhibited
among Gray-banded Kingsnakes.
offspring individually priced, usually from $75-150; exceptional specimens may be more |
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