Re: Subspecies vs. species?

In a message dated 1/13/99 6:59:36 AM Pacific Standard Time, MOTO_DO@t-
online.de writes:

> Aroiders, 
>  What I ever want to know is how is a subspecies defined? No botanist I
>  asked gave me a sharp definition. Or is it only a point of view?

I large part, subspecies are just points of view.  Generally, subspecies
correspond with particular populations of a species, separated, for example,
geographically, or on the basis of minor characteristics.  In general, I do
not use subspecies at all, but speak only on the species level, as all
subspecies can successfully interbreed anyway.  Subspecies are useful
primarily by taxonomic specialists, and in some cases, by preservationists
(the case of the Mexican wolf comes to mind).
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