Re: Keys Ratsnake Question

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Posted by Don Soderberg on October 31, 1999 at 22:49:13:

In Reply to: Keys Ratsnake Question posted by Michael on October 31, 1999 at 20:22:05:

: Is the hypomelanistic "Keys Ratsnake" a ratsnake or a cornsnake? What is the correct scientific name?

If you're referring to the so-called rosy rat snake, it's not currently considered a separate subspecies. Just plain ole Elaphe guttata guttata. Depending on what key they are caught on, specimens can vary from extremely hypomelanistic to slightly so.

It is my opinion that this should be a separate subspecies. This snake is as different from the northern corn snake relatives and has significant demographic separation in that it has proven to be a interbreeding group. That is, individuals of the group generally maintain the same look. Some gene pools of them appear to lack the red pigment. Some are desireably yellow in color and many completely lack ventral markings. Most of them are extremely hypomelanistic.

These differences are enough for snakes of many other genera to be split away from the species or other subspecies.

As it is with many taxonomic classifications, it depends on general consensus. If a few new books or scientific papers are published identifying them as a separate subspecies, they will be considered such. After all, the snakes can't tell us what they are. We humans give them that designation based on most recent studies. That's why scientific names change back and forth in some animals.

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Re: Keys Ratsnake Question J McLean 11/01/99 (0)

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: : Is the hypomelanistic "Keys Ratsnake" a ratsnake or a cornsnake? What is the correct scientific name? : : If you're referring to the so-called rosy rat snake, it's not currently considered a separate subspecies. Just plain ole Elaphe guttata guttata. Depending on what key they are caught on, specimens can vary from extremely hypomelanistic to slightly so. : It is my opinion that this should be a separate subspecies. This snake is as different from the northern corn snake relatives and has significant demographic separation in that it has proven to be a interbreeding group. That is, individuals of the group generally maintain the same look. Some gene pools of them appear to lack the red pigment. Some are desireably yellow in color and many completely lack ventral markings. Most of them are extremely hypomelanistic. : These differences are enough for snakes of many other genera to be split away from the species or other subspecies. : As it is with many taxonomic classifications, it depends on general consensus. If a few new books or scientific papers are published identifying them as a separate subspecies, they will be considered such. After all, the snakes can't tell us what they are. We humans give them that designation based on most recent studies. That's why scientific names change back and forth in some animals.

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