Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cuae2!ihnp4!ihlpa!lew From: lew@ihlpa.UUCP Newsgroups: sci.bio Subject: Re: blind cave fish Message-ID: <2677@ihlpa.UUCP> Date: Sat, 10-Jan-87 17:51:20 EST Article-I.D.: ihlpa.2677 Posted: Sat Jan 10 17:51:20 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 11-Jan-87 06:47:57 EST References: <741@aecom.UUCP> <927@husc6.UUCP> <124@bcsaic.UUCP> <888@aicchi.UUCP> Distribution: na Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 13 Eyes could be a liability in a totally dark environment because of their vulnerability to injury. This vulnerability is amplified of course since the fish can't see! Cave animals also tend to lack pigment. I don't know what liability pigment might represent to an animal, except possibly resource consumption. I personally lean towards simple regression as the explanation for the loss of eyes and pigment. I think failure to select in favor of a character results in its loss by random variation. I'm no expert, though. Lew Mammel, Jr.