A natural example of locality change over time is the southern Florida ratsnakes. Miami used to have Banana yellows and the glades used to have bright oranges. The draining and filling has homogenized them. This would be an excellent reason FOR keeping more than 1 locality line.

Milk snakes, with their 3rd color and more intricate patterns, have a more variable and therefore a "faster" change in locality phenotype. In my observation, the difference between St.Marys and Calvert county coastals has subtley changed in the past 20 years. But when I brought the subject up on the milk forum to talk about I was wholeheartedly blasted. Only a river seperates the counties, yet it is no wider or faster now then it was 20 years ago. Could pattern types reflect more than just color?? Could this be a reflection on rodent vs lizard feeders? Survivability? Predation? Or just simple variation? One type hasnt replaced the other, simply more common.

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