Posted by:
indictment
at Fri Nov 21 04:21:23 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by indictment ]
Very interesting question..............
I think that the genetics in the snake would limit the snake's maximum reach even if am ample supply of food is offerred. Let me explain.
The dwarfed populations are separated from the mainland and so naturally the food available is a little on the scarce side. Those individuals that fast and large soon died because they were unable to support their large bodies. However those that survived were able to because their growth was stunted whether it be from mutation or or plain increaser-decreaser alleles. Regardless, only the "dwarfed" individuals would be able to actually live and reproduce on the island, and any of their offspring that grew to large wouldn't survive....what you gradually end up with is a type of selective breeding enforced by the isalnds limitations, and what I would call the epitomy of natural selection. That is why I go so far as to say the dwarfed counterparts of the EDB would probably retain their dwarfism. However, not all of their offsping would exhibit the dwarfism to the same degree. So in the first breeding "clutch" there could very well be some intermediate-sized EDB or even normal-length EDBs(these of course would not survive in the wild, but now they are in captivity and are going to be given plenty of food) and you would have no way of telling until they start to grow or even perhaps until they sexually mature.
That's just my thoughts.....I could very well be way off on this one.
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1.3.0 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 California Kingsnake
0.1.0 Copperhead
1.1.0 Eastern Box Tutles
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RE: Adult snake size: Nature verses Nuture - indictment, Fri Nov 21 04:21:23 2008