Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can some one explain this to me in a little more detail? I was reading on Solomon Ground boas and they said they were polymorphic.....having many different looking young? Dont most snakes have different looking young? Thanks for the help...

Thanks,
Chris
-----
0.0.2 Gila Monsters
1.2 KSB
1.0 Leopard Gecko -Dudly
1.0 Pacman Frog- Frigity
1.1 Rats -Killer(albino)- Twitch (babies are dinner)hehe

Poly means many and more than two. That means more than 2 combition of morphs into an new morph. For expample, some people thinks Aptor is an ploymorph or Carrothead Tangerine Jungle Carrottail Super Gaint. Carrothead Tangerine Jungle Carrottail Super Gaint has 3 ressivce forms in it and 2 co-domiant in it to produce one.
-----
Preston Berry
www.coolgecko.com
restonberry@austin.rr.com" target="_blank">Prestonberry@austin.rr.com

Here is the definition of "polymorphic" from www.dictionary.com:

"The occurrence of different forms, stages, or types in individual organisms or in organisms of the same species, independent of sexual variations."

Polymorphisms --

A salamander named the eastern newt has an aquatic larval stage followed by a terrestrial, air-breathing stage (the red eft), followed by an aquatic adult stage.

In honey bees, queens and workers have different appearances and functions in the hive.

The ermine changes from white in winter to brownish in summer and back, as do the ptarmigan and snowshoe hare.

California king snakes occur in banded and striped forms. Graybanded king snakes occur in blairi and alterna phases.

I don't think that "polymorphism" is applied to differences that become common because of human selection.

Paul Hollander