I understand the rationale behind “regional” naming schemes, and identifying former subspecies as merely variations of a known, variable species. (In general, there are too many naming schemes for plants & animals; many “subspecies” are merely variations of a species highly variable in appearance - like many snakes.

Here is the big “however”,

Based on my 25 years researching reptiles, I feel that enough difference exists between subspecies of North American Rat snakes to recognize them as individual species. Yellows have distinct traits not usually duplicated by other; same with Everglades; most especially of Black, Gray & Texas snakes.

I vote for keeping subspecies status, with unique names, when traits are distinguishable:

Pantherophis obsoletus obsoletus
Pantherophis obsoletus spiloides
Pantherophis lindheimeri
Pantherophis quadrivittus
Pantherophis spiloides
Pantherophis slowinski
Pantherophis emoryi

Ameron
Portland/Vancouver

1.0 Elaphe schrencki (Anerythristic)
1.0 Pantherophis guttatus (Miami phase)

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