whereas they used to be taxonomically classified as one of the three mexicana complex, and scientifically known as Lampropeltis mexicana alterna, with two phenotypes(looks), blairi, and alterna, with variations also being intermediate between the two. The Durango Mountain King(Lampropeltis mexicana greeri) is also another of the three within this complex, and they are ALL very closely related.



This group is actually more complex than that. While alterna was brought out from the rest of the mexicana group, there are serious questions about whether it should be in many people's mind.



So while the "traditional" taxonomy lists Lampropeltis alterna plus three subspecies of Lampropeltis mexicana (mexicana, greeri, thayeri), there is a separate species that was described a few years back from coastal Sinaloa (Lampropeltis webbi), an undescribed form from the mountains of NE Mexico, and then there is the issue of where Lampropeltis ruthveni fits in this whole mess!



I suspect the taxonomy of these "mexicana" snakes is going to change in the next few years as people are actively working on trying to sort it out. Anyone trying to write a book on Mexican Kingsnakes should write it in pencil for the time being!
-----
Chris Harrison

San Antonio, Texas

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