Damian, you are right that Hog Island boas are not their own species, they are a locality. However, many believe that they warrant a subspecies classification of their own.

Ryan, you are right that there is no clear cut geneetics behind Hog Islands. There are many genes at work in every animal to make them appear the way that they do.

When you combine two different localities or subspecies, no baby will ever come out to look exactly like either locale or ssp. Take Damian's example of a Swedish person and an Asain person. When thay have kids, I highly doubt any of them would look 100% Asian or 100% Swedish. The genes that make up their appearances mesh to create a blend of both. THere is no recessive or co-dominant gene that makes a person appear Asain or Swedish, just like there is no single gene that make Hogs, Colombians, or any other Boa appear the way it does. It is a highly complex mixture of genes. Sorry for the rant, I am bored at work.

Chris Canada-Smith
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CCS CONSTRICTORS: Specializing in Morph and Island Localities of BCI

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