The authors of this study commented that “We therefore recognize three distinct

Question

The authors of this study commented that “We therefore recognize three distinct species in the melanoleucus complex, P. melanoleucus (sensu stricto), P. catenifer, and P. ruthveni; whether additional species should be recognized within P. catenifer remains questionable.” Do you agree with their species delineation? How many species should be recognized in P. catinifer

The authors of this study commented that “We therefore recognize three distinct species in the melanoleucus complex, P. melanoleucus (sensu stricto), P. catenifer, and P. ruthveni; whether additional species should be recognized within P. catenifer remains questionable.” Do you agree with their species delineation? How many species should be recognized in P. catinifer

Explanation / Answer

Yes I agree with species delineation because as per molecular Systematics of  Pituophis melanoleucus (gopher, bull, and pinesnakes) is among the most widely distributed polytypic species complexes in North America, with most authors recognizing from a single transcontinental species (the melanoleucus complex, composed of 15 subspecies) to four (monotypic and polytypic) species.the mitochondrial gene sequences from the two middle American species, P. deppei and P. lineaticollis, and from 13 subspecies from most of the range of the melanoleucus complex to test various phylogenetic hypotheses for Pituophis.Maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods identified the same major clades within Pituophis .So that we two groupings as a different species represents the evolutionary diversity within this species complex.

There are 9 species in Pituophis catenifer is available which includes the subspecies annectens, affinis, catenifer,
coronalis, deserticola, fuliginatus, insulanus, pumilus, sayi.

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