ABSTRACT
The size and shape of ranges are related. Figure 3.7a is a scattergraph of the greatest north-south and the
east-west range dimensions for North American snake species (Brown 1995). In the graph, ranges equidistant in north-south and east-west directions will lie on the line of equality that slopes at 45 degrees upwards from the origin (Figure 3.7b). Ranges stretched out in a north-south direction will lie below the line of equality; ranges that are stretched in an east-west direction lie above the line of equality. The pattern for North American snakes is fairly plain (Figure 3.7a). Small ranges lie mainly above the line (these are stretched in a north-south direction); large ranges tend to lie below the line (these are stretched in an east-west direction).
