np
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How come ratsnakes are in different Genara? np
lilroach56
Apr 13, 2004 02:38 PM
Replies (2)
chrish
Apr 14, 2004 07:58 AM
The common name "Ratsnake" (in several languages, actually) has been applied to a variety of snakes worldwide. This common name is simply a reflection of the fact that the snakes are fairly large, non-venomous, rodent eaters. Even then, in the new world, a ratsnake represented a particular morph of snake (such as a Black Ratsnake) whereas in Asia, a ratsnake looked more like what we would call a large "racer" (such as Ptyas).
Since our system of scientific nomenclature is supposed to represent the evolutionary relationships among snakes, not simply their general morphs, taxonomists/systematists have begun to separate the different ratsnakes, grouping them into genera that more correctly show their evolutionary history.
The same thing used to be true of "watersnakes". All watersnakes used to be lumped into the genus Natrix. Now there are half a dozen (or more) different genera of watersnakes worldwide.
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Chris Harrison
lilroach56
Apr 14, 2004 02:13 PM
thanks.
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