Well I read that and got something a little different.

Remember Frank is trying to make us think here, so with that in mind, what Frank asked is this....



1) Do we find both typical spelndida types and typical holbrooki types in the area where this snake was found?



The answer is no. All the kingsnakes from there look just like that. You have to go further east to find snakes that exhibit "classic" holbrooki phenotypes and further west that exhibit "classic" splendida phenotypes.



So you are still thinking that this is indeed an "intergrade", but is it really if the snakes have a "continuous" range and slowly exhibit different phenotypes over a broad geographic range? Wouldn't you need to be able to find "classic" splendida phenotypes, "classic" holbrooki phenotypes, and intermediate types like this one all in the same locality to qualify as a true "intergrade"?



This is actually a very astute question Frank has raised. He's trying to beat us over the head with it but we still don't seem to get it



The exact same scenario exists with the triangulum in Texas. The range is continuous throughout the state, with a little hole in Bexar county (durnit). At what point can you "really" with authority say this snake here is an "amuara x annulata" intergade or do the snakes just exhibit a gradual phenotypical variation throughout a continuous range (i.e. they are all the same)?



With some species the boundaries are a little more "clear" and some may be able to say with a little more authority that indeed intergration is taking place. With other species, there is a lot more gray area over a much broader range.



???

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