- Joined
- Aug 30, 2002
- Messages
- 1,781
Hi Chris,
The size variation of mature male Phlogius spp. is astounding to be honest, most have a size variation of female:male @ 1:1 to 1:0.5, but some species, such as the Goliath Phlogius have a variaion of 1:1 to1:0.2, or as small as 1/5th the size of the male, maybe even smaller.
The reason all of the exported Phlogius males are small is simply because you are seeing only the first males to mature, next year there will be more and more the year after that (gradually larger in size)...
I think it may be a survival method to avoid harsh seasons. The species with the greatest variation (Goliath) lives in a very harsh environment, some seasons VERY dry, others, very wet. To have some males mature prior to a possible harsh season ensures breeding within the population in even the very worst of seasons. The have some larger males ensures the maximum use of possible good seasons, and so on.... when you think about it, it's the perfect way to avoid unstable environments (not my idea, it's from a hypothesis of Dr B.Y.Main on certain mygale males within Australia).
I did write an article ondwarf males in Selenotypus spp. back in 2005, but I cannot remember where I sent that article to......
P.S., if anyone has that article, please PM me hey
Thanks,
Steve
The size variation of mature male Phlogius spp. is astounding to be honest, most have a size variation of female:male @ 1:1 to 1:0.5, but some species, such as the Goliath Phlogius have a variaion of 1:1 to1:0.2, or as small as 1/5th the size of the male, maybe even smaller.
The reason all of the exported Phlogius males are small is simply because you are seeing only the first males to mature, next year there will be more and more the year after that (gradually larger in size)...
I think it may be a survival method to avoid harsh seasons. The species with the greatest variation (Goliath) lives in a very harsh environment, some seasons VERY dry, others, very wet. To have some males mature prior to a possible harsh season ensures breeding within the population in even the very worst of seasons. The have some larger males ensures the maximum use of possible good seasons, and so on.... when you think about it, it's the perfect way to avoid unstable environments (not my idea, it's from a hypothesis of Dr B.Y.Main on certain mygale males within Australia).
I did write an article ondwarf males in Selenotypus spp. back in 2005, but I cannot remember where I sent that article to......
P.S., if anyone has that article, please PM me hey
Thanks,
Steve
