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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
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Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
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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.