HARPER, G.R.; ZIMMERER, E.J.; GROGAN, W.L.; OWENS, J.; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Murray State University; Salisbury University; Murray State University: A reevaluation of the taxonomic status of the Scarlet Kingsnake, Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides (Serpentes: Colubridae)

The Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides) was originally described by Holbrook (1838) as a distinct species. By the early 20th Century, most authors regarded this form as a subspecies of L. triangulum due to suspected/supposed intergradation between L. t. elapsoides and L. t. triangulum along the mid-atlantic coastal plain. We reevaluated the systematic status of L. t. elapsoides and its relationship to the three subspecies that border or overlap the current range of this form, L. t. triangulum, L. t. syspila and L. t. amaura. Evidence from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, morphology and biogeography suggests that L. t. elapsoides is not a member of the L. triangulum complex. Our data and computer generated phylogenetic analyses indicates that the Scarlet Kingsnake is more closely related to the L. mexicana complex, and, therefore, we recommend it be recognized as the distinct species (L. elapsoides).