What is the evolutionary future of Elaphe obsoleta (rat snakes) speciation?

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Request for Question Clarification by mvguy-ga on 31 Jul 2002 07:33 PDT

What specifically do you mean by "evolutionary future"?  Are you
asking whether the regional subspecies will eventually become species?

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Clarification of Question by juleshope-ga on 31 Jul 2002 08:33 PDT

This is for mvguy-ga....I'm just kinda curious theoretically from now
until the next ice age if the three clades will become better species
or even become one population, or if they are currently a good species
and why? all while addressing factors of natural selection, sexual
selection, allopatric speciation, sympatric speciation and isoltaing
mechanisms. If you give me agood answer I'll make my payment higher

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Clarification of Question by juleshope-ga on 31 Jul 2002 10:33 PDT

and yes will the regioanl subspecies eventually become species or 1 species?

Evolution has no predictable outcome.  Also, species are arbitrary
ranks.  That is, not all species fit a single definition.  They are
not all the same age, the same size, they do not occupy the same
amount of genetic variation, they do not all interbreed (ie.
biological species concept), etc.  The only thing that species "do" as
a group is go extinct... but even then it is lineages
(parent/decendent lineages) that go extinct.  Best.