normal, dwarf, super dwarf...what are the differences?

[nolagurl]

Are dwarf retics and super dwarfs snakes that were bred to be a smaller size, or are they a different subspecies?
I'm not into morphs so I was curious what the distinction between those snakes are.


Thanks!

[Big_V]

I believe they are from different geographical regions in which the snakes do not obtain the larger size.

[nolagurl]

Hrm. Why do they not obtain the larger size?

[Quinn,Matt]

There are 2 recognized naturally occurring subspecies of dwarfs. Smaller size may be the cause of size of locale, prey species/availabitilty, etc.
-MQ

[kevyn]

Right now the dwarf retics are classed as Python reticulatus. The day is comming when the taxonomists will class the dwarfs as a subspecies (ei. Python reticulatus jampea). Prey availablility would play a key factor in the dramatic size differences with the retics, as would the size of the prey available. It would take alot of rats to get a Sulawesi to adult size. Some may also suggest that the dwarf variation is a recent adaptation (evolutionaly speaking). The giant snakes are a throw back to a time when the best survival stratedy was large size. So the dwarf version of the reticulated python would have evolved much later, give or take a few million years.

[Quinn,Matt]

kevyn, "P.reticulatus jampeanus" is CURRENTLY a recognized subspecies pertaining to retics which originate from Jampea and Kayuadi regions.
-MQ

[nolagurl]

Thanks so much guys! I was hoping that would be the answer.

[kevyn]

kevyn, "P.reticulatus jampeanus" is CURRENTLY a recognized subspecies pertaining to retics which originate from Jampea and Kayuadi regions.

I had not heard of a recognized subspecies of the retic. I'll look into that. Any idea when that happened?

[KarlSnake]

There are two primary evolutionary drivers for large size in predators - the prey just keeps getting bigger as its own defense against predation, so the predators upsize pretty much along with them. The other is resistance to predation by the predator itself - seems like there's always something one link further up the food chain that will eat you, so you've gotta get bigger, or at least your descendants do.

Competition for females is a factor in many other genera, but does not seem to be applicable to snakes.

In many ways, the current level of taxonomy seems (to me) like the debates from another epoch about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Taxonomists live by their publications, but when officially different species can interbreed & produce fertile offspring, something is not quite right with the taxonomist's criteria. Mayhaps there will eventually be a DNA-based filtering & classification process defined & accepted that can sort out the species / subspecies / subsubspecies mess. In the meanwhilst, we're stuck with what we were left by Linnaeus in the 1730s & beyond - based on the male & female reproductive structures of plants.

Selective breeding to enhance various naturally occurring traits - like dwarfism, albinism, stripedness, ad nauseam - doesn't magically create a new subspecies any more than trivial local geographic variations that happen naturally over eons of time. But, if a taxonomist needs to publish something in order to stay employed, VIOLA!, a new species or subspecies is wonderfully defined in exquisite detail & declared in a prestigious academic journal.

[Andy]

"Superdwarf" was just the name given to the animals because the exporter would not provide locality data (supposedly because he felt the population may become endangered if over collected) but most likely just because he didnt want others to know where the retics where from so he was the only person that could export that specific local.

The dwarfs are Jampeas, Kayuidis, Kolatoyas, Superdwarfs and im sure there are a few others from some of the islands in that chain.

There are also the selayers that some consider dwarfs, but personally I dont think there have really been enough out there and raised in captivity to give an accurate perspective on growth.

And some consider Balis dwarfs as well, although I do not.