Of ribbons and garters

[Stefan-A]

C'mon now. They call them ribbon snakes, and garter snakes for a reason. They're different and distinguishable from one another. Stop calling them garter snakes. What are you trying to do, get a job at Petco?

It's an unjustified distinction and the common names of T. proximus and T. sauritus need to be changed to reflect the fact that they are garter snakes. Even T. radix and T. elegans are further removed from T. sirtalis, than those two species.

[ConcinusMan]

It's an unjustified distinction and the common names of T. proximus and T. sauritus need to be changed to reflect the fact that they are garter snakes. Even T. radix and T. elegans are further removed from T. sirtalis, than those two species.

That's all fine and dandy and very good points but we don't call them ribbon snakes because they are far removed from T. sirtalis. Doesn't the Latin names indicate their relationship? Ribbon snakes are classified as Thamnophis so what is it you feel that needs to be changed? Are you suggesting that they should be called T. sirtalis (ssp) ? Even if they were, I'd still call them ribbon snakes because of the difference in their body mass, because of their long whip-like body.

[Stefan-A]

That's all fine and dandy and very good points but we don't call them ribbon snakes because they are far removed from T. sirtalis. Doesn't the Latin names indicate their relationship? Ribbon snakes are classified as Thamnophis so what is it you feel that needs to be changed? Are you suggesting that they should be called T. sirtalis (ssp) ? Even if they were, I'd still call them ribbon snakes because of the difference in their body mass, because of their long whip-like body.

You can call them deer for all I care, but as long as they belong to Thamnophis, they are garter snakes.