Taxonomic discussion

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

I am in complete agreement over the fact that nature is always changing, and the finality of reaching a sound conclusion really only makes humans feel better. On the other hand, trying to figure out the mechanics as to what is really happening among all these populations can lead us to the understanding of whether or not certain activities (e.g. hybridization in the wild) are possible. The tetrataenia/infernalis intergrade relationship leads to all others within the sirtalis clade.... same for elegans... New genetic understanding might lead to extra afforded protections (and I do say might, since there is a lot of politics involved in land development or protection).

Even though species continue to change, to be able to compare a map of ages gone by to the current geography, and then discover the route(s) that ancestors took and how they split to live where and look like they do today is absolutely fascinating to me. Any time you want to understand the present, you usually have to look into the past....

[Garter_Gertie]

Even though species continue to change, to be able to compare a map of ages gone by to the current geography, and then discover the route(s) that ancestors took and how they split to live where and look like they do today is absolutely fascinating to me.

Yup. Furshure. What HE said.