kingsnake.com - reptile and amphibian classifieds, breeders, forums, photos, videos and more

return to main index

  mobile - desktop
follow us on facebook follow us on twitter follow us on YouTube link to us on LinkedIn
International Reptile Conservation Foundation  
Click to visit PACNWRS
This Space Available
3 months for $50.00
Locate a business by name: click to list your business
search the classifieds. buy an account
events by zip code list an event
Search the forums             Search in:
News & Events: Trap Talk interview with Jon Poff . . . . . . . . . .  San Diego Herp Society Meeting - Nov 18, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Suncoast Herp Society Meeting - Nov 22, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  DFW Herp Society Meeting - Nov 22, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Tucson Herpetological Society Meeting - Nov 24, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Bay Area Herpetological Society Meeting - Nov 28, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Greater Cincinnati Herp Society Meeting - Dec 03, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Southwestern Herp Society Meeting - Dec 06, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Kentucky Reptile Expo - Dec. 06, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  St. Louis Herpetological Society - Dec 14, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  San Diego Herp Society Meeting - Dec 16, 2025 . . . . . . . . . . 

Re: Taxonomy is a matter of evidence...most of the time


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Taxonomy Forum ]

Posted by Langaha on October 17, 2002 at 09:35:53:

In Reply to: Re: Taxonomy is a matter of evidence...most of the time posted by vvvddd on October 16, 2002 at 20:42:23:

:I just looked over that paper you put on one of your posts concerning the use of molecular and morphological cues in taxonomy. It makes more sense now that mtDNA cues can't really distinguish between adjacent population. How do you determine if they are reproductively isolated or not, especially if they are very similar groups (ie 'subspecies' of ratsnake)? I guess some morphological cues might help, but what about behavior or niche colonization?

This Elaphe obsoleta revision has led to a lot of controversy and no one I know has accepted it. How can one justify sinking subspecies and elevating some to species based on a single slowly-evolving mtDNA gene? Population structure certainly does not necessarily indicate a distinct species, and thier data proved that their "species boundaries" failed to hold up (i.e. Apalachicola River). A total misuse of the ESC as well as mtDNA! And we thought subspecies have been used inappropriately.



Follow Ups:




[ Follow Ups ] [ The Taxonomy Forum ]