Thanks, Herman.

According to their latest paper, Utiger et al.(2005) suggest that Zamenis also has "phylogenetic affinities" with Coronella and Oocatochus. These genera are in the "ratsnake" clade, or tribe, Coronellini, as proposed in the paper to be the proper title for the group.

Higher taxonomy always seems to be changing and is hard to come to terms with, even for the professionals. Taxonomists tend to differ about phylogenetic affinities, and stuff, and there's likely to be more future proposals. Oocatochus does seem to have some characteristics in common with Coronella, however, such as live-bearing reproduction.

I think what might have happened with "O. rufodorsatus" is that they were imported during a time when not much was known about the Old World ratsnakes; there was a push to learn about the Old World ratsnakes and keep some in collections; and "rufos" were fairly easily confused with dione and bimaculata, and thus sold as the others at times. There were times when discussion got a little heated, whereas some good folks insisted they were a garter snake and not a ratsnake. I think it has been settled now that they are a ratsnake, although in a different grouping from most other Eurasian ratsnakes.

Although very few hobbyists care to work with rufos, personally, I'd still like to try them someday.

Thanks for the post. Hope I didn't ramble too much...

Terry

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