A Facebook discussion with, amongst others, Mark O Shea about tetrataenia

[guidofatherof5]

Here is a link to the ICZN (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature) where they stepped in to stop a proposed name change to T.s.tetrataenia (San Francisco Garter Snake) in order to keep its "Endangered" status intact.

Conservation | International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature

Here is another link to a study that shows T.s.tetrataenia has a much larger range then O'Shea suggests.
Thank you Steve Schmidt for the link to this study.
http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc774.pdf

[Thamnophis]

That's why I placed the discussion here... Because as far as I knew there still is a subspecies names tetrataenia.
I placed a link etc. to this topic in the discussion on facebook for Mark O' Shea.

[chris-uk]

That's why I placed the discussion here... Because as far as I knew there still is a subspecies names tetrataenia.
I placed a link etc. to this topic in the discussion on facebook for Mark O' Shea.

It's a shame most of us can't see the FB discussion, it must be restricted to Mark's friends. I hope that you can update the discussion with the information here that corrects the assertion that infernalis and tetrataenia are the same subspecies.

[scorpion0151]

you probably do have to be on Mark o Shea's friends list as it was posted on his wall, I'm on there so I can see it

[Thamnophis]

The follow up...

Fons Sleijpen Mark, I placed this discussion on the large forum www.thamnophis.com.

The topic is here: http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/gene...trataenia.html

Taxonomic Comments: CNAH

The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (2000 Opinion 1961, Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 57(3): 191-192) has voted to retain the historical taxonomic arrangement of subspecies within this evolutionary lineage, rejecting the arrangement proposed by Boundy and Rossman (1995 Copeia 1995(1): 236-240). Accordingly, the subspecies tetrataenia is reinstated and the races concinnus and infernalis retain their historical definition.Garter Snake Forum
www.thamnophis.comThamnophis is a community dedicated to the raising and husbandry of garter snakes.

Mark O'Shea Fons, Having now looked into this I agree the ICZN did decide to retain tetrataenia so as to maintain stability. I have read the argument but forward by Barry & Jennings in this respect. I therefore stand corrected, nobody is right all the time eh! Looks like I will have to relabel my photos of this attractive gartersnake again but I appreciate the heads up.

[guidofatherof5]

Glad we could be part of resolving any misinformation.