Morphological Variation in a Population of the Snake, Tantilla gracilis Baird and Girard

"Morphological Variation in a Population of the Snake, Tantilla gracilis Baird and Girard" by Laurence M. Hardy, focuses on a scientific investigation into the physical characteristics of flat-headed snakes collected in Kansas between the late 1930s and early 1940s. Through analyzing 246 specimens, this research takes a close look at scale counts and the structure of the snake's upper jaw. The study reveals that many of the snakes have traits different from what scientists typically expect from this species. The authors investigate previous claims about the existence of subspecies within "Tantilla gracilis" based on these differences. The book determines that these variations, while present, are not significant enough to divide the snake population into subspecies, suggesting a more unified classification.