Which is exactly the point, to discuss minor pattern and color differences, with species where the populations have been isolated for hundreds if not thousands of years is sort of meaningless.



As mentioned, in the not to distant past, the southwest was very different, but the mountains were the mountains, only the valleys between the mountains were much wetter, hence relic populations of wetland reptiles still exsist.



But the point here was, geneflow, say from just north of mexico city(heartland of mexicana) to texas and az. Alterna and pyro. It no longer exsists. or even from Ruthies to mex mex, or mex mex to thayeri, Which is why they are phenotypically different.



Mex mex to thayeri, to alterna is the question, as thayeri area is intermediate. Its also high elevation to low elevation. Its also semi tropical to xeric.



On a smaller scale, pyros from each different mountain range are phenotypically different as well. And in many cases, behaviorally different. As in, choosing a different mode of survival. Even different base prey.



The question is and has been, how long do they need to be isolated to be a speceis. In the past, the animals must be morphologically different, now not so. Now its all about dna. Which appears to migrate faster then morphology. Cheers

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