What conservation implication arises from splitting the widespread P. obsoletus into multiple species?

Each resulting smaller population requires its own unique conservation assessment

The splitting of a historically widespread and seemingly common species like *P. obsoletus* into genetically distinct units, such as the Western, Gray, and Black Rat Snakes, has direct implications for conservation biology. When a single large taxon is fragmented into several smaller, more localized populations, conservation efforts must shift. Instead of one broad assessment, each newly recognized species or lineage requires its own evaluation based on its unique genetic health, specific range size, and localized threats, acknowledging that what was once considered a widely distributed common snake might actually consist of several evolutionarily sensitive entities.