How is his viewpoint much different from this?
PROBLEMS OF PYTHON CLASSIFICATION AND HYBRID PYTHONS.
With the exception of the Black-headed python and Woma (Genus Aspidites), all other Australian pythons have at various times been assigned to a number of different genera. Numerous schemes of classification for the remaining Australian species of python have been proposed. These include Hoser (1982), Mcdowell (1975), and Stull (1935). The schemes range from the placing of all species in the genus Python shared with other non Australian species, to placing the species in question in up to seven genera. Namely Bothrochilus, Chondropython, Liasis, Lisalia., Liasis, Morelia, and Python. The assignment of given species within a particular genus is also a matter of conflict. For example within the last ten years the Scrub python Morelia amethistina has been placed in the following genera, Liasis, then Python and now Morelia. In reality all Australian python species excluding Aspidites are fairly closely related, and should perhaps be placed in a single genus with further placement in sub-genera. The conflict here is one between "Lumpers" who would agree with the above statement, and "Splitters" who would fear that by placing the pythons in question into a single genus, the relationships between species may be obscured. HYBRIDS BETWEEN SPECIES In the late 1970's, the Royal Melbourne Zoo had a male Carpet python Morelia spilota successfully breed with a female Scrub python Morelia amethistina, and Water python Liasis fuscus. The offspring produced were intermediate in characteristics between the parent snakes, and themselves appear to be fertile, although at the time of writing had not successfully bred. The snakes had however, produced eggs which failed to hatch. The snakes in question were held for some years by the Royal Melbourne Zoo before being transferred to Renmark Reptile Park (South Australia). The proprietor of this park, Joe Bredl Senior, allowed this author to photograph specimens resulting from both hybridisations. The photos clearly show the intermediate appearances of the snakes and are reproduced here. That the Scrub python and Water python can cross breed in captivity with a Carpet python indicates that all three species must be closely related, and should in all probability be placed in a single genus. The above indicates potential problems for the 'Darwinian' classification of 'species'. Hybridisation and creation of 'new' species are two practices which conservationists generally condemn, for a number of reasons. However, the case cited above was probably of great benefit to Australian herpetology, and in the long term will probably assist in the conservation of Australian pythons. |