Dwarf snakes - a load of rubbish? - Page 2

ern79 · #11 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herper666

dwarf localities are not considered a subspecies

are you sure about that?????

Mason · #12 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herper666

exactly - because your not genetically different. dwarf localities are not considered a subspecies and therefore are not genetically different to mainland cousins. or at least not significantly different

They are genetically differnet. If they were not then small WC adults would produce large young. They don't.

the GENETICS of the animal is what determines the size of the young, not how much food the adults ate over however many generations.

Not all dwarf localities are from islands.

Many many many dwarfs ARE sub species. did you do any checking at all? You need go no further than our website linked below!

Flutterbye · #13 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herper666

I have a theory behind 'dwarf' species and was wondering if anyone else knew anything else. haha

basically all the dwarf species i can think of, retics for example, are from islands. Now being islands, they dont have the same size prey item or the same number of prey items as the mainland. Therefore isnt it possible that these are ohnly 'dwarf' species in the wild because of lack of food? surely not being a subspecies they are the same as the mianland form and have the potential to get just as big?
if you under feed a snake, it stays small, isnt this just whats happened with dwarf species. surely the genetics are the same and a kayaudi retic could get 12-16 foot+ in length?
or is this just a theory i made up that i would like to think is true but in reality isnt?

That's an interesting theory, maybe be right too...i'm no expert myself. But whilst i've been thinking about it what about dwarf people? They're abviously not under fed, maybe dwarfism is a case of natural selection/genetic mutation so many things can change/go wrong during cell division etc? (no offence to dwarf people here i know some people don't like being called dwarfs etc but i'm not sure what to say instead and some people take little people offensively aswell, apologies here)

Demon Reptiles · #14 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 10:30 PM

interesting theory however there is no current evidence of dwarf species being able to attain the size of a 'normal' animal

Bernie · #15 (**permalink**) 06-08-2008, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flutterbye

That's an interesting theory, maybe be right too...i'm no expert myself. But whilst i've been thinking about it what about dwarf people? They're abviously not under fed, maybe dwarfism is a case of natural selection/genetic mutation so many things can change/go wrong during cell division etc? (no offence to dwarf people here i know some people don't like being called dwarfs etc but i'm not sure what to say instead and some people take little people offensively aswell, apologies here)

I'm sorry but that reply totally cracked me up laughing! Its a good example though!! Dwarfs are genetically different, thats why they're dwarfs, if they weren't they'd be full size!!! Over generations, the snakes in certain localities, whether due to inherited genetics or environmental issues, survival of the fittest, whatever, became inherently smaller as a response to this. Just because we capture them, feed them as much or more than they need and breed them, they will not suddenly realise "I'm off that bloody island - wayhey! large babies it is then..." Its like suggesting if I bought a Irian Jaya carpet and overfed it, it would grow to the size of a retic! It would just become obese, its genetic programming would prevent it from exceeding its inherited length. If it did happen, boy would I be in trouble....

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode