I can't post on the other BTS forum, so Í thought I'd continue Rays question here:
He asked why isn't subspecies level considered for the Theraphosidae.
Hi Ray,
Because at such an early evolutionary level, a species variation has not had a chance to stabilize and continue its form, it could morphologically change practically overnight. Not stable enough to warrant a scientific name. If the entity can create an isolated reproductive mechanism then it will become a species within its own right, but until it does so, it would have to be considered too unstable. For example all it might take for the subspecies to vanish would be an alteration to its geographical barrier(human intrusion could cause this litteraly overnight), allowing it to cross successfully with its other same species counterpart.
I'm aware that subspecies could be considered for the Theraphosidae and perhaps justifiably so, but perhaps it should also be considered that too little is known of the Theraphosidae at higher levels to even contemplate subspecies at this stage.
Besides, what morphological characters would be considered for subspecies??? Colour is useless, due to extreme variance, so is size.....
Cheers,
Steve Nunn
He asked why isn't subspecies level considered for the Theraphosidae.
Hi Ray,
Because at such an early evolutionary level, a species variation has not had a chance to stabilize and continue its form, it could morphologically change practically overnight. Not stable enough to warrant a scientific name. If the entity can create an isolated reproductive mechanism then it will become a species within its own right, but until it does so, it would have to be considered too unstable. For example all it might take for the subspecies to vanish would be an alteration to its geographical barrier(human intrusion could cause this litteraly overnight), allowing it to cross successfully with its other same species counterpart.
I'm aware that subspecies could be considered for the Theraphosidae and perhaps justifiably so, but perhaps it should also be considered that too little is known of the Theraphosidae at higher levels to even contemplate subspecies at this stage.
Besides, what morphological characters would be considered for subspecies??? Colour is useless, due to extreme variance, so is size.....
Cheers,
Steve Nunn
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