A biologist, that is, these animals are something, its a matter of figuring out what. Or an Ethogist(sp) these animals were something and are on their way to being something else???

Remember you said, the habitat is always changing, this is true, But you neglected to add, the animals are always changing to exsist in that new enviornment. An ethologist once told me, species, subspecies, piffffff, it is of no matter, what is important is behavior, this makes the animal. The problem here is, biology knows nothing of these snakes behavior.

About genetics and DNA, first, these studies are not so good, the reason, no one will set exactly what genes to use, or set how long these populations need to be seperated in order to be something else. So basically, DNA studies are quicksand. They are indeed accurate, but not consistant and usefull across the board. The genetic markers used for a rattlesnake study are the the same ones used for a kingsnake study or that of a ratsnake study.

Also, I am sure your aware that kingsnakes are not ratsnakes, therefore your apples to oranges, or better yet, lemons to oranges. Their population dynamics may or may not be the same.

All in all, we probably agree on most of this. Cheers FR

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