Elaphe is still a valid genus. In a recent paper, I think in 2002, the genus Elaphe was split into many new and resurrected genera, but the genus Elaphe survived to include the northern group of Eurasian ratsnakes, namely...E. schrencki, E. quatuorlineata, E. dione, E. bimaculata, E. carinata, and others. These splits are not automatically accepted by all scientists, however, and must stand the test of time. I still use "Elaphe" for most ratsnakes, because of this, and am waiting to see what happens in the scientific community. In other words, you can use the new genera or keep using Elaphe for all the ratsnakes until more is written about the changes.



BTW, not all American ratsnakes are in the genus Elaphe. For instance, you have Bogertophis and Senticolis, and some other genera which are debatable.



PS: There's supposed to be a new paper coming out soon from Vaughan, et. al, on the taxonomy of the Elaphe guttata complex. Hope we settle that and the Emory's ratsnakes become more clear in their relationships



TC

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