Posted by:
RSNewton
at Fri Aug 1 21:30:01 2003 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by RSNewton ]
New World Elaphe originated in the Old World. So, it is a descendant of a species of Old World Elaphe. Subsequently Lampropeltis, Pituophis, Arizona, Stilosoma, Cemophora et al. evolved from this immigrant. Classifying New World Elaphe in a different genus would render Old World Elaphe paraphyletic. That is certainly a good excuse to send Old World Elaphe to the chopping block. But since New World Elaphe is itself paraphyletic, it means New World Elaphe itself may have to be splintered into two or more genera. That gives the taxonomists and those who keep track of taxonomic changes a hobby, but it really does not do the scientific community at large any good.
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