I would agree, a Philodryas study would be nice. I also assume they are much different taxonomically, as would most herpers, but there's still a possibility in my mind (because it looks like there's similarities or maybe convergent evolution), and I've never heard of any genetic studies with these snakes. I do know that ratsnakes from tropical s.e. Asia have a combination of racer and ratsnake characteristics; are considered fairly distantly related, and we still include them in our studies; and may have had tropical ancestors which were venomous and rearfanged.

For Philodryas to be related via the ancient racer/ratsnake ancestors there would have had to have been a tropical connection via Asia to N. A. to S. A. in the past, probably around the early Miocene. Best way to get rid of the question is to prove they aren't related...haha!

PS: Philodryas seems to be most like the Gonyosoma species or Rhyncophis, not the Elaphe.

Thanks for the post....

TC



>>I would assume they are different. I think Philodryas are considered more racer like than rat like. Also, I don't think there are any rear-fanged rats.
>>
>>Doesn't mean they didn't share a common ancestor with rat snakes, but I think they are pretty distantly related to the Ryno rats. A Philodryas study would certainly be nice.
>>-----
>>"I'll be back at 6 if not 7. 8 the very latest but definatly no later than 9...ish...Moscow time."

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