Talk:Elaphe obsoleta
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[edit] scientific name
Is it Elaphe obsoleta or Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta? -Ravedave 02:25, 22 June 2007 (UTC)
- The binomial is E. obsoleta. A third subspecies name is usually found in widespread species to designate geographic variants within the species. On Wikipedia, races are dealt with in the species articles as there is usually little different other than appearance and/or distribution Shyamal 02:32, 22 June 2007 (UTC)
- Elaphe obsoleta (rat snake) is the name of the species, which used to encompass a number of subspecies, such as Elaphe obsoleta spiloides (gray rat snake). In general, when the first new subspecies (race) is described for a species, a special subspecies name is created for the original description of the species; a name that repeats the species name. Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta (black rat snake) is an example of this, which can be referred to as the nominate subspecies, nominate form, nominate race, nominate or typical form.
- In this case, according to the best taxonomy we have for snakes (available through ITIS), no subspecies are currently recognized for Elaphe obsoleta, which means that names like Elaphe obsoleta spiloides and Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta are both invalid. --Jwinius 11:45, 22 June 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Don't Tread On Me
This is in response to the March 15, 2008 deletion by Jwinius of an external link less than four hours after it was posted (Wikipedians need to know about this kind of behavior): You removed a link in the black rat snake article, purportedly because it is "irrelevant" and because it describes 'a writer coming between a snake and its dinner.' Consisting of detailed observations of the snake, the linked article is anything but irrelevant. It's obvious, furthermore, that the true reason you deleted the link is that you don't like the idea of Homo sapiens making a choice to participate in a wild process. Believe it or not, this is how Homo sapiens operates. People are part of nature. Your deletion amounts to an imposition of personal preferences on other Wikipedia readers. Please restore the link. Wikipedia doesn't need police officers like you, who think they own articles to which they contribute. Though I'd be perfectly justified in restoring the link, I won't because your precipitous, irrational and imperious reaction suggests you'd like to play the restore/revert game, and I have better things to do. 69.177.95.31 (talk) 14:13, 16 March 2008 (UTC)
- In my opinion, the story for which the link was added is more about one person's encounter with a snake and their attempt to come between it and a meal than it is about the natural history of this species. Here's the article: How to Save a Life. It would seem that the author does not approve of the way these snakes make a living. I therefore judged it irrelevant to the article and reverted the edit. --Jwinius (talk) 21:43, 16 March 2008 (UTC)
- I agree with Jwinius. Regardless of content, it is a blog post, and they are not generally not accepted as External links. See Wikipedia:EL for guidelines on external links. -Ravedave (talk) 14:28, 17 March 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Black snake
Does the Eastern black rat snake travel around at night? Have found several in my yard that abuts the woods. I would not like to come upon one a night hanging from our trees. Leialni —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.242.27.207 (talk) 06:39, 6 June 2008 (UTC)
- According to Mehrtens (1987), they are basically active during the day, but high summer temperatures may force them to become more active at night. Remember, though, that these animals are completely harmless. In contrast, dogs and cats frequently inflict much more serious bites upon people, and mosquitos, often being disease vectors in many countries including the United States, are potentially much more dangerous: every years millions of people die as a result of their bites. --Jwinius (talk) 11:41, 6 June 2008 (UTC)
