[Stultis]

So why do snakes not have large ears? For many reasons we can agree that it is NOT because they vanished through adaptation to cold climates.

Reptiles never had ears in the first place. There was no opportunity for something to "vanish" that never existed to begin with. So, as if this was your original point ("I'll make a point of commenting that something that doesn't have ears doesn't have large ears") it's equally uninformed. But then you'll now admit that since you're "one of the first around here to admit [a mistake]". (As if.)

[unlearner]

Do you think mammoths descended from large-eared elephants? If not then why would small ears be any kind of adaptation at all? If so, then why aren't their ears smaller?