Al, the info I have on relationships of wild Pythons has come DIRECTLY to me oraly thru talking with some researchers working on this problem that asked to remain anonimous. Dave Barker, I believe discusses this in more detail in his paper published by the Chicago Herp Society some time ago. I'm NOT sure there is a paper that has been published on the DNA of these snakes. Do you know why that would be? I can't find anything official so perhaps you can or explain why, since the DNA has been studied there in fact is NO scientific paper. Admittedly I don't keep abreast of newly published papers as I used to so perhaps since that is what you do we could use some assistance. Also a scientific explanation of why in the last 40 years although many hundreds of thousands of Burmese Pythons have been imported into Florida only after post Hurricane Andrew was it discovered that a selfsustaining population occurs and the epicenter seems to be extreme S.E. Florida where the eye of Hurricane Andrew past over. Does this sound logical to you from a "strictly scientific point of view"? I think this adversarial position between herpers and academics should NOT exist and years ago in fact didn't exist. The question is why does it exist now. Many old, dear friends are now retired academics. The time has come to work together as before and not snap at each others throats when in fact our goals are similar. I believe we all have an abundent interest and love for these misunderstood and fascinating creatures so why not bury the hatchet and work together to strive to ensure our childrens children will have the same herpetofauna to study and love as we did..thanks
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

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