What evidence is there to suggest that they are anything other than melanistic colubrinus?

There have been a few genetic studies that have suggested that they are separate species. Really when it comes down to it genetics are where most species descriptions are going these days. Morphology has been shown time and time again to not be an accurate descriptor or phylogeny. However, there have also been conflicting studies that have combined rufescens with kenyan sand boas. If they are simply "range variation" within kenyans, there are some morphological differences other than color such as size (smaller for rufescens than Kenyans typically) that separate the two. This is why any species description has to be based on more than just morphological evidence. As a biologist, I need to see evidence beyond anecdotal accounts before I will make any conclusions. Time and time again phylogenetic relationships based on morphology have been shown to be blatantly wrong. However, there is a fine balance between relying too much on genetics.

Also, stripe is not a black back but a white back. So other species that have black back morphs are not really the same.
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Kyle R. Mara

Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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