OK,

I’m confuzzed, please enlighten me. I am but a humble Naval Officer and hobbyist. I am not a biologist, herpetologist or taxonomist. However, I see the utilization of “ssp” which I use (In Drymarchon corais references), and “spp” that others use with apparent facility referencing the same subject. It appears that I may be ignorant in the correct way to abbreviate my subject.

To my way of thinking, a reference to Drymarchon corais (ssp) is a reference to the entire tree below D. c. including D. c. corais, melanarus, rubidus, errebennus, et. al. Whereas “spp” is a reference to species that takes us up the tree a notch or two...

I personally accept D. couperi in accordance with W.W.’s supposition. But then again, who am I?

Forgive my ignorance, and help me say what I mean to say when I feel the need. I am a closet wordsmith, I wish to be correct and accurate.

Thanks and Regards,
Jeff Nichols

[ Hide Replies ]

• Call me off base...Ignorant...or whatever name you might use. - shadindigo, Thu Jan 6 20:31:09 2005
• RE: Call me off base...Ignorant...or whatever name you might use. - oldherper, Thu Jan 6 21:02:24 2005
• RE: Call me off base...Ignorant...or whatever name you might use. - shadindigo, Thu Jan 6 21:13:47 2005
• RE: Call me off base...Ignorant...or whatever name you might use. - shadindigo, Thu Jan 6 21:29:15 2005
• RE: Call me off base...Ignorant...or whatever name you might use. - mrand, Fri Jan 7 01:36:53 2005
• RE: Call me off base...Ignorant...or whatever name you might use. - oldherper, Fri Jan 7 07:37:22 2005
• RE: Call me off base...Ignorant...or whatever name you might use. - oldherper, Fri Jan 7 07:38:52 2005
• RE: Call me off base...Ignorant...or whatever name you might use. - WW, Fri Jan 7 04:37:11 2005
• Nope...I don't mind at all.... - oldherper, Fri Jan 7 06:55:11 2005
• By the way, Jeff... - oldherper, Fri Jan 7 07:22:39 2005
• Thanks, I'm wrapping my head - shadindigo, Fri Jan 7 11:30:56 2005
• RE: Thanks, I'm wrapping my head - oldherper, Fri Jan 7 12:13:30 2005
• RE: Call me off base...Ignorant...or whatever name you might use. - schlange, Fri Jan 7 19:56:15 2005