Hi all,
(I'm new to steemit so constructive criticism is welcomed :) )
I wanted to share with you all something that I find quite fascinating regarding Evolution and life's adaptability to a given environnement.
Insular Dwarfism.
As you all know, genetic isolation can be responsable for some of the most peculiar and morphologically intriguing species such as:
the Komodo Dragons!
The snow leopard
source: Pixabay
The Rafflesia Arnoldii ("Corpse flower" because of it's smell)
and the list goes on and on and on.
However today I want to discuss about one specific type of Isolation that occurs on Islands and forces species to diminish in size. The ressources on Islands are sometimes scarce and the lack of predators can allow for dwarfism to be a viable (no risk for predation) and even advantageous (less food to sustain one-self needed) path for genetic mutation.
Very often, the difference between an isolated sub-specie and a continental one can be very slight and result in nothing amazing for our sensation-craving, weird-devouring eyes.
Fortunatly, nature answers are calls. Here are my two favorite dwarf species (all extinct unfortunatly).
The Palaeoloxodon Falconeri from sicily:
The Homo Florensis, is a genus of Homo, on the island of Flores in Indonesia was a population of homnidae (extinct only 12000 years ago.) The average height of these human-ish people would have been 3'6'' (1.1 meters).
Thanks for reading
Ps: If insular dwarfism exists, it usually affect large mamals. When it comes to small animals, once Isolated on Islands they'll tend to grow unusually large (giant rat, giant turtles...ect)... This is known as THE ISLAND RULE.
GOODOLDTITO