"Southwestern" [Eastern] Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus ssp. [or sp?])

The following photos are representative of what has been described as the Southwestern morph or subspecies of the Eastern Ringtail, Erpetogomphus designatus.  My first sightings of these were at the Pecos River, at Pandale, in northern Val Verde County, which is (to the best of my ability to determine), a new locality record for this morph.  I initially (mis-)identified them as White-belted Ringtails, E. compositus, owing mostly to the observation that these "southwestern" ringtails were found to co-occur with more typical eastern ringtails.  I later got a large series of photos of this form along the Rio Grande River in Presidio Co.  Martin Reid suggested that I look at my photos carefully, because when he had searched the same area, he had found mostly "southwestern" eastern ringtails there.  I didn't get a chance to do so until  after returning from a trip to New Mexico, where I had the opportunity to photo "true" White-belted Ringtails, E. compositus.  Upon comparison with the photos from New Mexico, it was apparent that my specimens were not that species, but rather the "southwestern" form of the Eastern Ringtail.  However, it is unusual to find two different subspecies co-occuring at the same location (e.g. the Pecos River), and I'd be curious to see what a careful analysis (DNA?) would reveal about the "species-ness" of this form.  Aside from the (obviously important!) male appendages, the "Southwestern" Eastern Ringtails closely resemble White-belteds . . .

TEXAS: Brewster Co; Big Bend National Park, Daniels Ranch trailhead - male - April 2019



TEXAS: Brewster Co; Big Bend National Park, Santa Elena Canyon - male & female - October 2015



TEXAS: Presidio Co; Big Bend Ranch State Park, Grass Banks River Access - males - June 2014


TEXAS: Presidio Co; Big Bend Ranch State Park, Grass Banks River Access - female - June 2014



TEXAS: Presidio Co; Big Bend Ranch State Park, Grassy Banks River Access - males - July 2010


TEXAS: Presidio Co; Big Bend Ranch State Park, Grassy Banks River Access - female - July 2010


TEXAS: Presidio Co; Big Bend Ranch State Park, Grassy Banks Camp Area, Rio Grande River - female - July 2009




TEXAS: Presidio Co; Big Bend Ranch State Park, Lower Madera Canyon Camp Area on the Rio Grande River - males - July 2009



TEXAS: Presidio Co; Big Bend Ranch State Park, Lower Madera Canyon Camp Area on the Rio Grande River - pairs in copula 
July 2009



TEXAS: Presidio Co; Big Bend Ranch State Park, Lower Madera Canyon Camp Area on the Rio Grande River - females - July 2009


TEXAS: Presidio Co; Big Bend Ranch State Park, Colorado Canyon River Access to the Rio Grande River - male - July 2009





TEXAS: Val Verde Co; Pecos River at Pandale - males - June 2009