Posted by:
hermanbronsgeest
at Thu Sep 15 10:37:11 2005 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by hermanbronsgeest ]
Indeed, it means that Pantherophis is related more closely to Lampropeltis and Pituophis. But it doesn't mean that a snake like Pantherophis obsoletus cannot be crossed with Elaphe climacophora. Since Elaphe climacophora resembles the American ratsnakes so closely, it could share a common ancestor with the American lampropeltids recent enough to be genetically and morphometrically compatible. The thing is, we don't know until we try. I have seen Elaphe schrencki x Pantherophis guttatus crossbreeds before. These turned out to be infertile, by the way. Since Elaphe climacophora is genetically compatible with E. schrenki, this could mean that E. climacophora is incompatible with Pantherophis. I would not waste my precious time if I were you.
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