Evaluation of the Validity of the Ratsnake Subspecies Elaphe carinata deqenensis (Serpent: Colubrida

Based on morphological character comparisons and molecular phylogenetie reconstruction,we assessed the validity of the ratsnake subspecies Elaphe carinata deqenensis.Phylogenetic relationships inferred from fragments of two mitochondrial genes (ND2 and ND4) and one nuclear gene (c-mos) revealed a well-supported and minimally divergent sister relationship between putative E.c.deqenensis and E.c.carinata.Morphological comparisons indicated that all diagnostic characters proposed in the original description of E.c.deqenensis are unable to separate this taxon from E.c.carinata.On the basis of these preliminary investigations,we provisionally suggest that E.c.deqenensis is not a valid subspecies,and should henceforth be treated as a synonym of E.c.carinata.