and I still consider bairdi to be part of the Pantherophis obsoletus complex, myself - I don't agree with the split...


Toby,

I don't agree. I think bairdii and obsoleta show a very clear boundary where the two species come together and rarely hybridize. Think about the boundaries between the other taxa within the obsoleta group. They all intergrade over a wide area. Yet goo obsoleta and good bairdii can be found within a mile of each other in the hills of central Texas.
That was the basis on which they were separated and it still holds true today.

Chris
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

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