as far as i know,in north american snakes most of the taxonomy regarding subspecies has not actually been determined thru the use of mtDNA.....so yeah i would think big changes are gonna come,i've mentioned before (as have others) that the genus lampropeltis,to name one,is gonna really be shaken up/broadly restructured-thanks to recent mitochondrial dna testing....
surely that isolated population of horridus(i believe it's in georgia,with neurotoxic qualities to their venom) with the extremely virulent/stronger toxins is unique and very interesting;but is that really something that justifies specific or even subspecific status?and if so,why?to me it seems like a recent,localized and isolated adaptation-i.e. an anomoly-but i admit i want and need to learn more about it....surely there are more long-standing/established and widespread/far-reaching adaptations within the species that are apparently still not enough to warrant splitting the species....would love to hear some others' input to the topic-the timber rattlesnake and it's taxonomic status,etc.-because i would love to know more,they are such an intruiging and fascinating species....maybe from someone who has more 'academic credentials' than me..the only 'studies' i've been involved with is when i head out to observe/count/photograph them between the months of april and november,and that's more for my own personal enjoyment than for any research organization/institue.but i figure that counts too,right?lol.
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"with head raised regally,and gazing at me with lidless eyes,he seemed to question with flicks of his long forked tongue my right to trespass on his territory" Carl Kauffeld

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