I understand the rationale behind “regional” naming schemes, and identifying former subspecies as merely variations of a known, variable species. (In general, there are too many naming schemes for plants & animals; many “subspecies” are merely variations of a species highly variable in appearance - like many snakes.



Here is the big “however”,



Based on my 25 years researching reptiles, I feel that enough difference exists between subspecies of North American Rat snakes to recognize them as individual species. Yellows have distinct traits not usually duplicated by other; same with Everglades; most especially of Black, Gray & Texas snakes.



I vote for keeping subspecies status, with unique names, when traits are distinguishable:



Pantherophis obsoletus obsoletus

Pantherophis obsoletus spiloides

Pantherophis lindheimeri

Pantherophis quadrivittus

Pantherophis spiloides

Pantherophis slowinski

Pantherophis emoryi



Ameron

Portland/Vancouver



1.0 Elaphe schrencki (Anerythristic)

1.0 Pantherophis guttatus (Miami phase)

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