User blog comment:Mckrongs/Lagiacrus Subspecies Discussion/@comment-79.204.169.233-20110928184715/@comment-3057194-20110928200717

azure rathalos and pink rathian are called subspecies, some people say these are older versions and silver/gold are even older

i agree with this, except that i think the metal raths are true subspecies, because they have different elemental and physical weaknesses