> Whether or not to use subspecies in nomenclature is a separate issue. At the
> risk of misquoting her, Emily felt that the requirements for naming a
> subspecies - describable and consistent differences plus a non-overlapping
> range (bathymetric or geographical), made little difference from the
> definition of a species and you might as well call it that.



That's right. If there are consistent differences, then there is no
reason not to differentiate them as species. If the differences are
not consistent, and intergrades occur, then there is either only one
species (the norm) or hybridization is going on.

Distribution isn't necessary to take into account; distinct but
similar forms can be sympatric (living together in the same
environment) or allopatric (distributions not overlapping;allopatry
can be either geographic or environmental; in the latter two species
can live within meters of one another, but not actually be found
together... except where the boundaries of their environments are in
contact).


--
Regards
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
Fossil preparator
Mollusc, Toyota & VW van fanatic

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