New World Elaphe is paraphyletic.



Consider the following relationships:



((Elaphe guttata,Lampropeltis) Elaphe obsoleta)



or the following relationship:



((Elaphe obsoleta,Pituophis) Elaphe guttata)



The tree to which your were referring, probably that of Rodriguez-Robles, had a large number of unresolved polytomies. The maximum likelihood tree also had the surprising placement of Senticolis within the Lampropeltini even though it lacks the interpulmonary bronchus that is the synapomorphy of the Lampropeltini. Rodriguez-Robles' analysis is far from the final word. To propose taxonomic changes based on their tree(s) is premature and destructive. Senticolis is one of those ratsnakes that appear to be closer to the racers than to Elaphe. It has been removed from Elaphe. Other similar taxa can be removed. The remaining species should remain in Elaphe. The alternative is a plethora of new genera that are not distinguishable from one another. Certainly there are many who will accept the new arrangement. In fact, these people will accept ANY new arrangement. It is a hollow victory if one counts how many people blindly follow new taxonomic arrangements. A "victory" for the taxonomist is in reality a defeat for science. Unnecessary new taxonomic arrangements impedes scientific progress because it makes retrieving published information more difficult.

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