difference between western and mexican?

[davidyun]

please help me out.. are they two different species?
do their sizes differ, prices, colors,..
thjanks

[mainbutter]

Mexican hoggies are a different species.

They are probably most closely related to western hoggies compared to the other snakes in the genus Heterodon.

Price is probably in the $150 region perhaps? I wouldn't expect to spend less than $100 each, they aren't very common in captivity.

Color is a bit different than westerns, and have a stronger 'desert-y' camoflage to them. The pattern of spots across the back is different too. There are some minor structural differences in scale count (I think) and the nose comes to a stronger point.

[Skiploder]

please help me out.. are they two different species?
do their sizes differ, prices, colors,..
thjanks

There is a difference in scalation.

- 93% of kennerlyi have 2 or less loreal scales.

- 97% of kennerlyi have 6 or less azygous scales.

As for patterning - I've seen mexican hognoses that are identical to westerns in terms of coloration and blotching but have the correct typical facial scalation.

Some people claim the kennerlyi is a subspecies of the western, others claim it's a separate species.