The simple answer to your question is no. This is one of the major criticisms of the subspecies currently recognized within Lampropeltis triangulum. A number of other milk-heads and I have been discussing this very topic at great length. Here are a number of points that will hopefully address some of your questions:



- Subspecies are used to describe the variation within a species across its geographic range. The utility of this category is lost when the named forms fail to do so, or are physically and genetically indistinguishable.



- The most recent publication dealing with triangulum is the second edition of Ken Williams' monograph, published in 1998. This publication contains lots of fantastic information, but is becoming outdated.



- Prior to Willimas 1978/1988 publications, F. N. Blanchard published a revision of the genus Lampropeltis in 1921, using the most current information available to him at the time.



- Genetic evidence suggests a much smaller number of groups within L. triangulum than the 25-26 generally recognized today.



- The western forms of triangulum (gentilis, multistrata, taylori, and celaenops) have recently been noted to be genetically indistinguishable from one another, suggesting they're one and the same. This seems to jive pretty well with morphological data.



- The animals in the Four-Corners region are probably celaenops X taylori intergrades, using currently accepted subspecies designations.



Hope this helps!

Cole

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