basically I have implied a meaning already in the post you replied to above.

To me, an intergrade is the product of a breeding from two forms that are at least slightly divergent from each other (i.e. subspecies).

However, IF splendida and holbrookii are just natural variants of getula and can not be separated by distinctive traits, then those "intermediate forms are not true "intergrades".

This premise is basically the reason for our whole discussion here and below. And again, even if it holds true in this case, it's not "black and white" and may not be applicable in other species groups.

Or on the same note. Was Burbrink really justified to sink all those subs of guttata, bring back New world "Elaphe" and recognize three species "emoryi", "slowinskii", and "guttata"?
It was very pertinent that you brought the guttata group into the discussion, a group that ranges from the Jalpan Valley in Queratero, NW to Utah and east to (New Jersey?).

Forks

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