Posted by:
mtbker73
at Tue Sep 28 12:25:10 2004 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by mtbker73 ]
In studying the structures of various varanid hemipenes, does the difference in structure at all (other than very obvious incompatibilities) suggest the ability or preclusion from copulating with another varanid species? If the answer here is "yes, there are species that have structures that present significant incompatibility with the opposite sex of another species, precluding the ability to mate" (god that's long winded) I would expect this to be definetive support for separation of sub-species. I think this would be most applicable between species that are currently consedered related.
I do not at all have enough knowledge of hemipene structures, or toxonomy for that matter, to offer any accurate examples, but in ignorance I'll offer this;
prior to v. albigarius being separated from exanthematicus, a study of sexual organs shows physical impossibility of fertilization or mating = different species, argument over.
Hopefully you see the question/point through the ignorance. 
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