Please tell me its a good one.

[FWK]

I used to be the same way, and I still agree with you to a certain extent. But once I finally got the source of the changes and read the papers themselves (as tedious as that can be) I understood the reasons for all the changes and why the old subspecies didn't really make a lot of sense. The was virtually no morphological difference between the old subspecies, they were basically divided up by colors and pattern. It would be sort of like dividing up Ball Python morphs up into a bunch of different subspecies. The different colors and patterns found in Black Rat Snakes are just natural morphs that happen to be dominate in certain parts of their range. The three species that are recognized now are separated by natural barriers and have been evolving separately long enough to be considered genetically distinct, though not morphologically distinct.

[eminart]

Originally Posted by FWK

I used to be the same way, and I still agree with you to a certain extent. But once I finally got the source of the changes and read the papers themselves (as tedious as that can be) I understood the reasons for all the changes and why the old subspecies didn't really make a lot of sense. The was virtually no morphological difference between the old subspecies, they were basically divided up by colors and pattern. It would be sort of like dividing up Ball Python morphs up into a bunch of different subspecies. The different colors and patterns found in Black Rat Snakes are just natural morphs that happen to be dominate in certain parts of their range. The three species that are recognized now are separated by natural barriers and have been evolving separately long enough to be considered genetically distinct, though not morphologically distinct.

Do you have a link, or any info on how they're split up? I'm STILL confused on the rat snakes. It's difficult when searching to know which is the new info and which is the old.

[FWK]

Originally Posted by eminart

Do you have a link, or any info on how they're split up? I'm STILL confused on the rat snakes. It's difficult when searching to know which is the new info and which is the old.

Sure, I should have the paper bookmarked on my computer at home. I'll link it when I get home tonight.

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

We can't just kill things in nature that maybe a threat to us. We need to teach our children to respect and not destroy. Nature was here first, we are the intruders. In my state killing a rattlesnake is a crime. Education is the key. This is not intended to be rude nor am I trying to start an argument, we just need to be environmentally conscience.

^^ All of this, well said.