This taxonomy change has affected everyone, and annoyed most everyone. Here are my *opinions*, since there is no internationally recognized consensus:

Pantherophis seems to be a better genus name for North American snakes. Don’t know why they differ so much from Asian & European rat snakes, but I accept the continent-defining difference.

When it comes to subspecies, however, most herpers are avoiding using generic Pantherophis terms to indicate snakes by *region*, rather than by *physical traits*. Most persons still use common names:

Pantherophis obsoletus obsoletus
Pantherophis obsoletus spiloides
Pantherophis lindheimeri
Pantherophis quadrivittus
Pantherophis spiloides
Pantherophis slowinski
Pantherophis emoryi

Until there is consensus on the 2002 taxonomy changes, two “camps” of thought will continue to exist, and Elaphe will still be commonly used as a term in North America

Hope that this helps.

Ameron
Portland/Vancouver

1.0 Elaphe schrencki (Anerythristic)
1.0 Pantherophis guttatus (Miami phase)

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