return to main index

  mobile - desktop
follow us on facebook follow us on twitter follow us on YouTube link to us on LinkedIn
 
click here for Rodent Pro
This Space Available
3 months for $50.00
Locate a business by name: click to list your business
search the classifieds. buy an account
events by zip code list an event
Search the forums             Search in:
News & Events: Herp Photo of the Day: Happy Rattlesnake Friday! . . . . . . . . . .  Herp Photo of the Day: Skink . . . . . . . . . .  Tucson Herpetological Society Meeting - July 28, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Southwestern Herp Society Meeting - Aug 02, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Greater Cincinnati Herp Society Meeting - Aug 06, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  St. Louis Herpetological Society - Aug 10, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Kentucky Reptile Expo - Aug. 16, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Colorado Herp Society Meeting - Aug 16, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Chicago Herpetological Society Meeting - Aug 17, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  San Diego Herp Society Meeting - Aug 19, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Bay Area Herpetological Society Meeting - Aug 22, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Suncoast Herp Society Meeting - Aug 23, 2025 . . . . . . . . . . 

More like Mules, not Mutts

[ Login ] [ User Prefs ] [ Search Forums ] [ Back to Main Page ] [ Back to Hybrid Discussion ]

Posted by: SnakesByDesign at Sun Sep 30 12:36:29 2007   [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by SnakesByDesign ]  
   

Everyone keeps comparing snake hybrids to dog "mutts" and interracial people, but those are NOT HYBRIDS! A cross between a wolf and a dog is a hybrid, and a cross between a human and a chimp would be more comparable to what is happening with ball x carpet pythons.
Humans are so close genetically that no "race" even classifies as a separate subspecies. An African Bushman (San)and an Inuit in Alaska both share the same classification name: Homo sapiens sapiens. The last existing subspecies was Homo sapiens neanderthalensis and some anthropologists don't even think THAT classification is right. They believe neanderthals and cro-magnons were the same subspecies, just different 'varieties'. Just as all dogs are also the same subspecies, just different 'breeds'.
The hybrids being created between balls and species from other continents is more comparable to "ligers" and mules.

Even when it occurs in nature, hybrids are not seen by many scientists to "strengthen the gene pool":

"he indiscriminate cross-breeding of Indian cattle with the exotic Jersey and Holstein Friesian breeds under the Intensive Cattle Breeding Programme (ICDP) and the Operation Flood, has rendered more than 80 per cent of the Indian cattle in the non-descript category. In a country, which has the largest population of cattle in the world, and some 26 recognised breeds of cattle, genetic contamination had taken its toll. More than a dozen of the Indian cattle breeds have now disappeared. The unique genetic diversity and wealth that India possessed in cattle has gradually eroded."



"Nonindigenous species can bring about a form of extinction of native flora and fauna by hybridization and introgression either through purposeful introduction by humans or through habitat modification, bringing previously isolated species into contact. These phenomena can be especially problematic for rare species coming into contact with more abundant ones. Increased use of molecular techniques focuses attention on the extent of this under appreciated problem that is not always apparent from morphological observations alone. Some degree of gene flow is a normal, evolutionarily constructive process, and all constellations of genes and genotypes cannot be preserved. However, hybridization with or without introgression may, nevertheless, threaten a rare species' existence."


A first-generation hybrid is fine, but what if a "carpal" is bred back to a ball python and one of the offspring finds its way into the hands of someone who doesn't know its genetics as a hybrid?? Will the carpalXball be mistakenly seen as a new ball morph?

Everyone wants to play Dr. Frankenstein, I just hope everyone keeps track of what they're creating.


   

[ Show Entire Thread ]


<< Previous Message:  Hybrids Anybody??? - ratsnakerascal, Fri Sep 28 20:32:19 2007