Hello all-
I have noticed many postings regarding new world members of the Elaphe genus (corn, rat snakes, etc.) as Pantherophis genus. I would like to make this the topic of a term paper I need to write, but cannot find any sound scientific reasoning for this change. How did this taxonomic change come about, by whom & when did it happen? But most importantly, was it published in a PEER REVIEWED journal?

Thanks in advance for all of your help!!
-Byron