RAUK - Archived Forum - Races

Was just reading thru Chris Davis' website, where he mentions 3 races of Sandies in the UK. I assume these are Sefton, Dorset/Hampshire and Surrey ?

Does anybody know what the differences are between these races ?, or is 'race' a loose term here identifying the origin and behavioral differences ?

If there are marked differences in marking, I would be very interested in knowing what these are !

Hi

Firstly, apologies for a very late reply - some how I managed to completely overlook this post. So -albeit 8 months late - here we go! The three races are as you state although we generally refer to them as Merseyside, Dorset and Wealden (note the first extend well outside Sefton, and the third is found further afield than just Surrey so these terms are more appropriate).

As a general rule the races are differentiated as follows:-

Merseyside - tendency towards being quite light in colour with two broad light bands separating the dorsal pattern from the flanks. The green on males usually a brighter almost lime green (but one known colony looks more like Dorset animals). Also tend to be a little more delicately built that the Southern races.

Dorset - more uniform marbling or ocellations, generally somewhat darker, little separation between dorsal and flank patterns tendency towards a darkish green in adult animals (but dune animals can look more like Merseysiders).

Wealden - heavily ocellated and/or marbled, much darker than either of the other two races. Even very noticeable in hatchlings which are very dark. Often no demarcation between dorsal and flank patterns.

Having said this - every variation can be seen in every location. it would appear that the variations occur naturally and a combination of trace minerals in the habitat and natural selection (i.e. which pattern provides the best camouflage) are the determinants as much as the racial genes.