Re: Sea of Cortez Mystery Slug

April 5, 2007
From: Jennifer Beatty

Concerning message #19781:

Wow, thanks for the info! I'm curious though - why do all of the Aplysia californica 's look so disimilar in coloring..is this a regional characteristic or is every sea hare different just like humans?

Jennifer Beatty

jlbeatty22@gmail.com

Beatty, J., 2007 (Apr 5) Re: Sea of Cortez Mystery Slug. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19815

Dear Jenny,

Every animal is just a little bit different from every other one. That's essential for evolution to work. If every individual in each species was identical in colour, shape, physiology etc, then when environmental conditions changed every indiviudal in the species would be equally affected - and in the worst case the whole species would become extinct. What actually happens is that there are tiny differences between every individual and their parents. The differnec is not necessarily in colour, it could be in their ability to withstand a higher temperature, or perhaps digest their food a little more efficiently etc. These differences mean that when environmental conditions change a bit, some individuals in a species will be better able to adapt to the changes. In that way species gradually change into new species which are better able to meet the changed environmental conditions.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Apr 5). Comment on Re: Sea of Cortez Mystery Slug by Jennifer Beatty. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19815

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